Cuts to two education services in Glasgow will hit the most vulnerable children and should be reversed, a trade union has said.

Glasgow City Council is axing all 29 home school support workers who work with families and liaise with schools.

In addition, two assessment centres for under 5s with additional needs are to be closed.

READ NEXT:Hundreds helped by Glasgow's overnight centre for homeless people

The decisions are part of the cuts to education services, totalling £4 million this year as the council had to make savings of £49m to meet one of its biggest-ever spending gaps.

Unison said the cuts to the two services will hit families and children who need support more than most and argue the decision should be reconsidered.

The union said home support workers “provide a critical bridge between the needs of many individual families and the wider access to education provision”.

The under-5s assessment centres help children with the transition from early years into primary school if it is noted they are in need of help to make the adjustment.

Unison said they are “vital in the early identification of children under five with additional needs”.

Unison states that in Glasgow, poverty and deprivation remain one of the most significant threats to educational outcomes and axing these staff will not help get the best results for pupils. 

READ NEXT: Number of parades in Glasgow revealed: which organisation holds most?

Sylvia Haughney, Unison branch officer, said: “There is no greater duty on Education Services than to address the needs of those missing children from our schools.

“These home school support workers are a key route to positive destinations for those who otherwise fall far short of their potential.”

The union stated: “Closing the attainment gap is more than just politics, it is the responsible delivery of justice to the most marginalised in our community.

“This impacts on the long-term health, social and psychological outcomes that affect wellbeing.

“If this council cares for helping those in most need and is serious about closing the attainment gap, it is imperative to retain the full strength of these two services.”

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council, said: “The council’s budget for 2023/24 had a spending gap of £50m. 

“Education has by far the biggest budget and was protected in relative terms in comparison to other services in order to safeguard learning and teaching as much as possible.

“Our schools will be looking to review processes that will lessen any impact on the individual needs of our children and young people.”