The Cottage in Falkirk helps young people who can’t go to school

Children and Young People’s Commissioner Nicola Killean has praised a Falkirk service which helps children who need extra support with their education.  

The Interrupted Learners Service – known as The Cottage – helps 45 children aged 12 to 18 to access opportunities to engage in learning. The service supports a small number of young people who find it too difficult to attend school for a prolonged period of time due to physical or mental health.  

Commissioner Nicola – who visited the service and heard first-hand from teenagers how important it is – said: “Every child has the right to an education that develops their personality, talents and abilities to their full potential. Children have told us that isn’t happening for everyone and services like The Cottage are an important way of supporting children who can’t attend their school, whatever that reason may be.  

“We need to improve education in Scotland so that it works for every child, which is sadly not the case currently. The Cottage’s personalised and nurturing approach is one approach that helps children to learn in ways that suit them. They can become more confident, they can relax, and ultimately they can flourish.”  

A young person who uses the service said: “The Cottage has given me people who I can trust and talk to. A safe place. Somewhere that I can have a second chance at education.” 

The Cottage complements work already taking place across all schools in Falkirk to help children whose school attendance is interrupted, and runs alongside support from school staff who know the children and young people well.  

Children and young people have asked the Commissioner to make education a priority issue for her office. Her report ‘“This is our lives, it matters a lot”: Putting children’s rights at the heart of education’, published in March, makes recommendations to improve the education system for all children. One recommendation was to increase access to alternative education provision.   

The Commissioner added: “Children have told me that the education system in its current form isn’t meeting the needs of everyone. Some children find it overwhelming, some feel lost, and others simply can’t cope in a busy school environment without supports in place. Children who can’t go to school still have the right to an education and places like The Cottage and alternative offers from schools are making that a positive reality for these children.   

“For too long, children have been expected to adapt to the education system, but the system should be adapting to them. There is much to learn from alternative education that could benefit the whole approach to education.”  

Jenny McNeill, who runs The Cottage, said: “Seeing our young people be able to reengage with education and thrive at The Cottage is incredibly rewarding.”