This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Education for all
29/09/2003
A new schools training pack has been
produced to help ensure that all young people have the
opportunity to receive a quality education that takes
account of their individual needs.
During a visit to Berwickshire High
School, Duns, Deputy Education and Young People Minister
Euan Robson launched the pack, which highlights examples of
good practice.
Mr Robson later addressed a meeting of
the Association of Support for Learning Officers (ASLO)
from across Scotland where he said:
"There is no blueprint for what makes
a good inclusive school - the barriers to inclusion vary
from school to school and from pupil to pupil. This
training pack does not, therefore, have all the answers but
it does highlight examples of good practice from throughout
Scotland.
"I hope that teachers and education
authorities will find it useful when they are considering
how best to ensure that all pupils receive a quality
education that meets their needs.
"To help deliver this goal, the
Executive has provided additional funding to promote
inclusion and increase staff development opportunities as
well as making schools - and the curriculum - more
accessible for youngsters with disabilities. The training
pack will build on this work by encouraging everyone
involved in education to consider whether their school is
as inclusive as it can be.
"I'm sure this work will pay off for
pupils throughout Scotland who face barriers to learning -
whether these are caused by special education needs,
physical disability, language or any other
difficulties.
"We hope to further strengthen and
streamline the support pupils are entitled to when we
introduce the Additional Support for Learning Bill to
Parliament later this year."
The £63,690 training pack has been
produced by an Aberdeen University project team and will be
distributed to all Scottish schools.
The Executive will work with ASLO to
distribute and encourage use of the training pack.
The pack contains a discussion paper,
interactive scenarios based around a series of case studies
and a video highlighting current good practice.
The seven Scottish schools featured in
the video are:
Stranraer Academy, Dumfries
and Galloway
Marlpool Special School,
Aberdeen
Alness Academy,
Highland
Sandwick School, Shetland
Islands
Cauldeen Primary,
Highland
Lumphinnans Primary,
Fife
St Roch's Secondary School,
Glasgow.