Additional Support for Learning Act
Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004
Under the Act, education authorities will have a duty to establish procedures for identifying and meeting the additional support needs of every child for whose education they are responsible. They must keep those needs under review. Other agencies will have a duty to help education authorities meet their duties. Such agencies may include a local authority’s social work services, any health board, any other local authority or other agency specified by Scottish Ministers, such as Careers Scotland or further education colleges.
Update on the act
Parents of children with additional support needs, including those with a co-ordinated support plan (CSP), will now be able to request that their child attend a school in another local authority, through an out of area placing request. Where a child has a CSP - the educational plan to meet their needs - parents will also have a right to appeal to the ASN Tribunal for Scotland if the placing request is refused. Furthermore, when a child is attending a school in another authority as a result of a placing request they will now have access to mediation and dispute resolution from the new 'host' authority.
Publications
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Resources
Guides
Includes guides for parents, children and young people, and health professionals.
Implementation news
Children in Scotland and the Scottish Executive are working together to raise awareness of the Act through a series of 14 newsletters.
Background, challenges and opportunities
Mike Gibson, Deputy Director, Support for Learning Division at the Scottish Government, explains about the background to the Additional Support for Learning Act.