Advisory Committee: Report into the Education of Children with Severe Low Incidence Disabilities

ANNEX E

Government Measures announced in November 1998 in response to
Consultation Exercise on Discussion Paper on Special Educational Needs in Scotland

Summary of action

The Government will:

• Set up an independent national SEN advice service to provide information and advice to parents and children and young persons with effect from April 1999.
• Double the resources available for in-service staff development and training by making available to authorities an additional £2.5 million per year.
• Extend to March 2000 The Scottish Office funded National SEN Co-ordination Project to work with local authorities on priorities for staff development and training.
• Double the provision available to authorities for speech and language therapy for recorded pupils to £6.5 million per year.
• Create a £2 million grant scheme to support voluntary and non-statutory organisations in SEN area.
• Issue in the New Year a Good Practice Manual for staff and professionals involved with children and young people with SEN
• Identify mechanisms with local authority and non-statutory sectors to take forward special educational needs issues of concern across sectors
• Give further consideration to the issue of specialist qualifications for teachers of children with special educational needs.
• Provide guidance on role and responsibilities of education authorities in relation to children with chronic illness.
• Consider and respond in early 1999 to recommendations of the Riddell Advisory Committee on Educational Provision for Severe Low Incidence Disabilities