Scottish Government

ministerial foreword

Our aspiration for all children and young people in Scotland is that they should be successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors to society and at work. They are our future and we all have responsibilities to ensure that they are safe, nurtured, healthy, achieving, active, respected and responsible, and included.

All children and young people need the support of our education system to help them to learn and to achieve their potential. We are determined to provide all our children and young people with a world-class education. We have set out a clear agenda to achieve this in our programme of reform Ambitious, Excellent Schools.

Most of our children and young people respond well to the opportunities for learning provided by our schools. We also know that without extra help some will not benefit fully from education. That is why we have consulted widely throughout Scotland to consider how our legislation, policies and practices can be improved. As a result, the Scottish Parliament passed the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act in 2004 with the aim of creating a stronger, better system for supporting children's learning. This Act aims to ensure that all children and young people receive the additional support required to meet their individual needs and to help them make the most of their education.

The Act also gives parents rights. It gives them more say in their child's education and more opportunities to express their views about what support they feel their child needs. It helps them in their dealings with the local authority if they feel that their child is not getting the support which they think is required. And it provides children and young people themselves with opportunities to have their views considered in those significant decisions that affect their education.

We know that schools alone cannot deliver what all children and young people need to make the most of their education. Other agencies, particularly social work services and health, have a critical contribution to make and need to be involved. We are building on For Scotland's Children by promoting an integrated approach to the delivery of services and support for children and families. This is recognised in our Integrated Community Schools approach. We are working to improve and unify the support systems for children to ensure they are supported into adulthood and have every opportunity to achieve the best they can. Through Health for All Children 4 we are placing greater emphasis on health promotion, primary prevention and targeting effort on active intervention for children and families at risk.

The Act promotes partnership working among those involved in supporting children's learning. Local authorities and NHS Boards require to establish clear arrangements for joint working so that they can meet their responsibilities under the Act.

This code of practice has been drawn up in consultation with parents, children and young people and those working in education, health and social services and the voluntary sector. It provides guidance to local authorities and other agencies with functions under the Act. We will monitor the implementation of the Act carefully and we shall review the code, as necessary, in the light of experience of its implementation.

We believe that this Act will make a real difference to the lives of children and young people with additional support needs, and their families. It will build on the good practice that exists already in our schools and communities. It will help us realise our vision where every school is a centre of excellence which brings together the different services needed to support children, young people and their families. Our children, young people and families deserve no less.