Following the furore sparked by a leaked document revealing the council was looking at axing up to 40 secondary school teachers, 30 additional support needs staff and dozens of classroom assistants, this week Lochaber councillor Andrew Baxter, who has been appointed as the new chairman of the Highland Council committee responsible for education, said he was determined that front line additional support needs staff numbers will not be cut.
Given that the local authority is facing a £26 million shortfall in the next financial year, that will be a very difficult task indeed, although we wholeheartedly agree it is imperative Highland Council puts the needs of Lochaber’s children first.