SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

Improving Our Schools: Special Educational Needs: The Programme of Action

Independent National SEN advice service set up to provide information and advice to parents and children and young persons [Enquire, launched by Children in Scotland in September 1999].
Resources available to local authorities for SEN in-service staff development and training doubled to over Ł5 million per year. [Implemented April 1999]
National SEN Co-ordination Project extended to March 2001 to work with local authorities on priorities for staff development and training
Provision available to local authorities for speech and language therapy for recorded pupils more than doubled to Ł6.5 million per year. [Implemented April 1999]
Grant scheme (Ł6 million over 3 years) created to support voluntary and non-statutory organisations in SEN area. [21 organisations awarded Ł3.8 million in grants for 33 projects in first round of programme]
Good Practice Manual for staff and professionals involved with children and young people with SEN issued to all schools in January 1999.
Ł12 million Inclusion Programme to assist local authorities to include children with special educational needs in mainstream provision. [Effective from 1 April 2000]

National SEN Advisory Forum established under the chairmanship of Peter Peacock, Deputy Minister for Children and Education [First meeting held in March 2000]
Provision of guidance on role and responsibilities of education authorities in relation to children with significant health needs who are unable to attend school [Amendment on local authority's statutory duty included in Standards in Scotland's Schools Etc. Bill. Circular and guidance to be issued to all local authorities in autumn 2000]
The Scottish Executive has invited views on specialist SEN qualifications for teachers in Improving our Schools: Consultation on the Schools Scotland Code by the end of June 2000
Review of current funding issues and supply of speech and language therapy and occupational and physiotherapy services [Arrangements under consideration]
Advice to bring school week for pupils attending special schools and units into line with their counterparts in mainstream provision [Guidance will be prepared in consultation with CoSLA]
Review of supply and funding of trainee educational psychologists. [Initial discussions to take place in May]
Changes to funding arrangements for seven grant-aided schools. [Ministers agreed principle - delay of one year in implementation announced December 1999 - further discussions with schools over transitional arrangements have taken place and revised arrangements will be announced.]

A review by the National SEN Advisory Forum of how the current Records of Needs process can be improved or updated.
An examination by the National SEN Advisory Forum of the legislative position on inter-agency joint funding responsibilities and the need for national guidance.
A project to be commissioned by the National SEN Advisory Forum to draw together up-to-date advice for staff to hear and take account of the views of children and young people. [Will be complemented by production by Enquire, the national SEN information and advice service, involving children and young people, of guide to issues affecting their education.]
A review of how information is collected in future School Census exercises with a view to providing more accurate statistics across authorities.
Research study by National In-Service Training Co-ordination Project evaluating the impact of in-service SEN training.
The Scottish Executive will take forward the devolved issue of a duty on education authorities to plan to improve provision for disabled pupils.