Delays for a report on a new model for additional support needs (ASN) across Highland schools has raised a red flag with concerned parents.
Highland Council appointed Grantown Grammar head teacher Claire McGonigal to write the report, originally due to be seen by councillors in January and ready by this month.
The final report has been delayed until May, and Ms McGonigal is back in post in Grantown.
The report is in the hands of officials, who are preparing an interim report for next week’s education committee.
A spokeswoman for the 4,000 member Highland Action Group for ASN and Education said parents were concerned the report would be a white wash.
She said: “Ms McGonigal and education director Nicky Grant attended very traumatic school group meetings and heard how angry and distressed parents were about the impact of the cuts.
“It was well reported that Ms McGonigal would be on the secondment until August 2020.
“They have taken one of the most important pieces of work this council term and it feels like it’s being rewritten because they don’t like it.”
Councillor Andrew Jarvie said it made no sense to give the writing of the report to people completely removed from it.
He said: “It means scrutiny is compromised because the right people won’t be there to answer questions at committee.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “Senior officers who completed the engagement section of this project are now working on other strategic projects during the remainder of their interim role.”
She said proposals and reporting on the development of a new ASN model would be brought forward to the education committee in May.
