This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Seminars on additional support for learning
17/02/2003
Proposals to modernise additional support for learning for school pupils will be discussed by parents, teachers, council officials and voluntary groups during seminars to be held in different parts of Scotland.
Education Minister Cathy Jamieson launched the draft Education (Additional Support for Learning) Bill earlier this year to revamp the learning support system that has been in place for over 20 years.
Ms Jamieson said she welcomed comments on the draft Bill and she hoped the views of the local community would help shape the final legislation.
She said:
"I want education to be a positive and inclusive experience for all young people no matter what difficulties they may face in their learning. This draft Bill will addresses the needs of individual children by strengthening parents rights and continuing to protect pupils with complex needs. It will ensure a less bureaucratic approach and more effective joined-up planning and provision of services.
"The views of young people, parents, teachers and other professionals have been central to the development of this draft Bill and it is important to consult with them again to fine-tune this proposed legislation. We must ensure that all pupils who need additional support for learning have an equal opportunity to benefit from education.
Dr Kay Tisdall, Director of Policy and Research with Children in Scotland, welcomed the draft Bill:
"Our members have called for some time for substantially improved special educational needs legislation. The Executive has sought to consult widely on these proposals, including supporting Children in Scotland and partners in on-going consultations with children and young people.
"Children in Scotland will be examining the Bill closely, to ensure that it will deliver the co-ordinated, child-centred framework that we have asked for."
Seminars take place on:
Monday, February 24 - Royal Lodge Conference Centre, Bridge of Allan, Stirling
2 - 4 pm and 6 - 8 pm
Wednesday 26 February - Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries
2 - 4 pm and 6 - 8 pm
Seminars are free of charge, however places are limited. To request a place, please contact Anouska Stevenson, telephone: 0131 244 7139 or email:
ASLevents@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
The seminars are part of a ten-week consultation on the draft Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill.
The draft Bill proposes:
- A move away from Special Educational Needs terminology to the wider concept of Additional Support Needs which will include all children who, for whatever reason and at any time, face difficulty in accessing and benefiting from education. The aim is to identify and address their needs whether their barriers to learning are social, cognitive, linguistic or due to disability or family/care circumstances.
- Education authorities will be obliged to identify and take steps to address the support needs of all children for whom they provide education. Other agencies, particularly health and social work services, will also have a duty to help.
- Parents and young people will be able to get more involved. Education authorities will have to publish their policies, arrangements and provision for additional support needs in education. Parents will also be provided with a named contact person who can give them information and advice on the system.
- The Record of Needs will be discontinued - a new Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP) will be introduced for children with complex or multiple barriers to learning who require additional support from outwith the education authority. The CSP will focus on the educational outcomes for the child and the support required to achieve these, rather than focusing on the weaknesses and deficiencies of individuals.
- A new independent tribunal will be established to hear appeals relating to CSPs. It should be a simpler, quicker and user-friendlier appeal system. Parents will be able to appeal any part of the CSP including the provision of services to support the child. (This cannot be appealed in the current system).
- New mediation services will be available for all parents of children with additional support needs to help resolve any conflicts or disputes there may be with the school or education authority.
- The current statutory Future Needs Assessment will be discontinued. Instead there will be a greater focus on planning and preparing a child with additional support needs for any transition between schools to ensure support is continued where it is needed. For the leaving school transition, the emphasis will be on preparing the child for life beyond school and working with other agencies to plan support.
- Placing requests will be extended to allow all parents of children with additional support needs to request a place at an independent special school. This is currently limited to those children with a Record of Needs.
Children in Scotland is the national membership agency for those working with children and their families.
For further information, contact Moira Cameron at Children in Scotland on 0131 222 2410.