Additional Support for Learning - Interim Position Statement

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Additional Support for Learning - Interim Position Statement

Last updated | 13/12/2011

Rationale

The Additional Support for Learning position statement is part of the overall Additional Support Needs Strategy of Perth & Kinross Council. It is complementary to the Statement of Intent [pdf 350KB] of Education & Children's Services. This position statement outlines the arrangements for implementing the new duties introduced by the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 within Perth & Kinross. It replaces the policy 'Support for Learning in Perth & Kinross' (2001). Everyone within Education & Children's Services has a duty and responsibility to promote and implement the requirements of this legislation in relation to children and young people with additional support needs. The Act also has significant implications for service providers and professionals working outwith Education & Children's Services, eg health, Careers Scotland, Further Education and Higher Education establishments.

The values underpinning the position statement are:

Openness, honesty and integrity
Fairness and compassion
Mutual trust and respect

Key Principles

Education & Children's Services within Perth & 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 the Additional Support for Learning position statement 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

Aims

to provide Education and Children's Services staff with a clear framework within which to operate, including clarity about procedures at both school/nursery and central levels
to provide consistency throughout the authority in the arrangements for addressing additional support needs to ensure transparency and predictability for children and young people and their parents/carers
to clarify the roles and responsibilities of all parties in relation to addressing additional support needs

Components

Detailed arrangements for the following aspects will be included in the Additional Support Needs Strategy

Arrangements for identifying whether a child or young person has additional support needs, including staged intervention framework
Arrangements for considering the level of planning required in relation to a child/young person's additional support needs
Arrangements for managing effective transitions
Guidance on supporting children's involvement in making decisions
Guidance on supporting partnership with parents
Arrangements for resolving disagreements
Guidance on good practice in managing Additional Support Meetings
Guidance on developing and reviewing educational plans, including IEPs and CSPs
Guidance on assessment

The full Additional Suport for Learning policy will be available soon. In the meantime, further detail about various aspects of the policy can be viewed by clicking on the following links: