Additional Support Needs
The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act came into effect in November 2005 and introduced new rights for parents and new duties on Education Authorities.
Education and Children's Services within Perth and Kinross Council has a duty to make adequate and efficient provision for the additional support of each child and young person with additional support needs for whose education they are responsible.
The key principles which underpin this are:
- all children and young people should receive the additional support required to meet their individual needs and to help them make the most of their education
- effective co-ordination of planning and support
- an emphasis on early identification of need
- the need to ensure assessment takes account of the needs of the whole child and is conducted in an integrated way
- the development of more flexible curricular and learning approaches to meet the needs of all children and young people more effectively
- the continued development of integrated working and multi-agency partnerships
- partnership with parents is central to ensuring that children and young people with additional support needs benefit fully from school education
- taking account of the views of children and young people in decisions which affect them
- emphasis on early resolution of disagreements at local level, as well as access to more formal processes where agreement cannot be reached
- development of more greater continuity and progression between stages or breaks in education, through more effective arrangements for transitions
All children and young people with additional support needs are supported wherever possible within mainstream education or within a range of specialist provisions. There is one all-through special school (Fairview School) (2 - 18 years). This is located on a mainstream campus between Perth Academy and Viewlands Primary School.
Where a child has been recorded as having Additional Support Needs which cannot be met within the Authority, consideration may be given to placement in a special school (either within or outwith Perth & Kinross) for which a successful placing request has been made. Where a child has been recorded as having additional support needs for which suitable provision cannot be made in a day school, the Authority may provide residential special education at either a special school, within or outwith Perth & Kinross Council, nominated by the Authority or a special school for which a successful placing request has been made.
Further information regarding Additional Support Needs can be found in the following information sheets:
Parents moving into the area should contact:
Children & Support Services
Education & Children's Services
Pullar House
35 Kinnoull Street
PERTH
PH1 5GD
Tel: 01738 476390
Email: ECS General Enquiries - Generic Email Account
