Additional Support for Learning

On 14 November 2005 the new Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 entered into force. Children and young people who require extra help at school for any reason at all are now said to have additional support needs. The new law says that the education authority must make "adequate and efficient" provision for those needs unless it would incur "unreasonable levels of public expenditure". Some children and young people will have a Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP) - if they require support not only from education services, but also from social work or the Health Board. The CSP will detail the pupil's educational objectives, and the support required from various agencies to help the pupil achieve those objectives.

Where parents are disatisfied with any matter relating to their child's additional support needs, they may seek to have the matter resolved by way of independent mediation services which are available in each authority's area. Dispute resolution is also be available by way of reference to an independent adjudicator. Where a dispute relates to a Co-ordinated Support Plan, there is a parental right of appeal to the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland.

Visit our new Additional Support Needs Website (external link).