This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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More support for more pupils
14/11/2005
The Additional Support for Learning Act comes into force today.
At the heart of the Act is a duty for councils to make and monitor appropriate arrangements for all pupils who need support to access and benefit from school education.
It also:
- Places a duty on councils, education, health and social services to work together to support pupils;
- Requires councils to seek and take account of children's and young people's views;
- Strengthens parents' rights by introducing mediation and dispute resolution services;
- Ensures schools devote adequate time to preparing pupils for life beyond the classroom;
- Introduces co-ordinated support plans for pupils with multiple or complex needs;
- Sets up independent tribunals to hear appeals relating to co-ordinated support plans.
Deputy Education Minister Robert Brown said:
"Every child deserves the best possible start in life. Benefiting from a first class education plays a huge role in this. That's why we want every child to have access to the support and help they need to fully achieve their potential.
"The Act should ensure that support is provided, no matter what the needs of the individual pupil. It expands the range of needs that authorities have a duty to consider and provide for.
"For example someone in the latter stages of primary who is particularly gifted at maths could get support to access the secondary school maths curriculum.
"For those with disrupted family circumstances, the education authority can seek the help of other agencies to ensure a child or young person continues to benefit from education.
"I believe this new Act will allow every child to access a better education and help them reach their goals by giving them the support they need, when they need it."
To coincide with the commencement of the ASL Act, Enquire - the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning - has launched a parents' guide. Enquire's senior manager Kathryn Hunter said:
"The law does mean that a much wider range of children will be eligible for extra support and so we would urge as many parents as possible to ensure they are familiar with their new rights. Enquire has worked to produce a user-friendly guide specifically for parents that will take them through what is a complex, but very important piece of legislation, and help them understand how the new law will work in practice.
"Parents have unique knowledge and experience of their child that most professionals will not have. Making sure they are fully involved in making important decisions, like whether or not their child has additional support needs and what kind of support they require is therefore vital."
The Additional Support for Learning (Scotland) Act was passed by the Scottish Parliament on April 1, 2004 and received Royal Assent on May 7, 2004.
The Executive have published a code of practice for professionals http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/08/15105817/58187 .
Guidance for parents is available from Enquire www.enquire.org.uk.
The Act is available from http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2004/20040004.htm.
Information on the new Additional Support Needs Tribunal is available from www.asntscotland.gov.uk.
The Executive is providing Councils with extra funding of £9.5 million in 2005/06 and £12.5 million in 2006/07 and 2007/08 to further support implementation of the Act.
Enquire offers advice and information to parents and carers of children and young people who have additional support needs and professionals working with them. They offer a telephone helpline and on-line enquiry service, guides, factsheets and regular bulletins, training and talks tailored to the needs of parents and professionals as well as services for children and young people including workshops and interactive website pages.