The number of pupils with additional support needs (ASN) has soared in the past six years, while funding and the amount of specialist teachers have fallen, new analysis indicates.

The Scottish Children Services Coalition analysed the annual Scottish Government Pupil Census and found large increases in most categories of pupils requiring additional support.

The number of pupils requiring support for mental health problems has more than tripled between 2012 and 2018, up 252 per cent.

Those with communication support needs have increased by 293 per cent in the same period, while pupils identified as having autism spectrum disorder have more than doubled, rising by 101 per cent.

Students needing help at school for physical health problems have risen by 98 per cent in the six-year period, while those with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties have increased by 86 per cent.

Those with dyslexia have risen 60 per cent and those requiring help with English as an additional language have more than doubled, up by 130 per cent.

All 24 categories record an increase between 2012 and 2018, apart from pupils requiring support for a learning disability which fell by 15 per cent.

Read more: MSP calls for opposition to back devolution of rails in Scotland

The figures are for publicly funded primary, secondary and special schools.

Overall, the number of pupils with additional support needs has risen by 69 per cent, from 118,034 to 199,065.

Pupils with additional support needs now make up more than a quarter (29 per cent) of all pupils.

The commission said the increase is partially due to increased recognition and diagnosis of conditions, as well as improvements in recording, and this helps target support and funding.

A coalition spokesman said: “It is clearly positive to see that we are becoming increasingly good at identifying and recording those with ASN, such as autism, dyslexia, mental health problems and learning difficulties.

“However, what is key is that we provide those requiring it with the care and support that they need.”

Iain Gray, Scottish Labour’s education spokesman, said: “These increases are dramatic and demand a proper response from the government, but instead, under the SNP, pupils with an additional support need are being badly let down.”