Additional Support for Learning Act
The Act gives parents new rights. Some of these have already been mentioned.
There are particular rights for parents to have support in meetings with the school and education authority about your son’s or daughter’s additional support needs. This is to help you getting your views across, if you think you might need it. Whoever you nominate will either be a ‘supporter’, such as a family friend, relative or worker from a voluntary organisation, or an ‘advocate’ who can help you in the same way as a supporter but who will also speak on your behalf and represent you at meetings.
Advice for parents
Enquire, the national advice and information service for additional support for learning, has published a guide with information on all aspects of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.
The guide includes information on parent’s rights, assessment, providing additional support needs and co-ordinated support plans. It also has information on:
- choosing schools
- changing schools
- children’s and parents involvement in decision making
- resolving disagreements.
Enquire also have a helpline where parents can get advice and information about additional support for learning. The helpline number is 0845 123 2303.
