This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Additional Support for Learning Bill
09/07/2003
Proposals to secure the best education for pupils who
need additional support for learning will be discussed at a
meeting between the Executive, local authorities, voluntary
organisations and parent bodies in Edinburgh today.
Ahead of the meeting, Education Minister Peter Peacock
said he was keen to hear views from a number of those who
responded earlier to the consultation on the draft
Additional Support for Learning (ASL) Bill.
The Bill, which will be introduced in Parliament later
this year, aims to ensure individual pupils' needs are met
effectively.
Mr Peacock said:
"This draft Bill will enable schools and local
authorities to deliver a more effective approach to
Additional Support Needs by modernising the current system
- building on its strengths and addressing its
weaknesses.
"I want to consider the many views expressed during the
consultation on the draft ASL Bill, and I look forward to
examining ways we can improve it further. It is important
that we work together to make this new legislation work -
both for pupils and their parents.
"Young people rightly expect to receive whatever support
they need to help them fulfil their educational potential.
We must ensure that the proposed legislation provides the
appropriate mechanisms to achieve this. Today's meetings
are an important part of that process."
The draft Education (Additional Support for Learning)
Bill seeks to revamp a system that has been in place for
more than 20 years.
It also represents a move away from special educational
needs (SEN) terminology to the concept of Additional
Support Needs (ASN), which will apply to all children who
face difficulties in accessing education.
Consultation on the draft Bill ran from January 17 to
March 28. In addition to written responses, the
consultation involved around 1,500 people during 14
seminars, four focus groups and other meetings with
interested parties.
As well as officials from local and health authorities,
today's meetings also involve representatives from the
voluntary sector and parent bodies: Children in Scotland,
Disability Rights Commission, Barnardo's, Special Needs
Information Point, Record of Needs Alert and Scottish
Parent Teacher Council.