Additional Support Needs
Most children will require additional support at some point in their school life. This can be for various reasons, e.g. bereavement, family circumstances, illness, learning difficulty or more able.
Depute Head Teacher
The Depute Head Teacher, Alison Livingstone is the co-ordinator for Additional Support Needs. Through close liaison with the class teacher and parents, children will be identified for ASN through observation, class work and assessment, both internal (school) and external (East Renfrewshire Council)
Senior Management Team
At various times, a member of SMT may work with an individual/group/class on a particular aspect of Numeracy or Literacy.
Class Teacher
The teacher may make provision within the classroom situation to reinforce work, which has previously been taught. The child may work with a Pupil Support Assistant or an ASN Teacher to reinforce work through games, flashcards, etc.
Parents
Parents will always be kept informed if there is a problem through the Class Teacher, Parents’ Meetings, letter or by telephone. Parents are encouraged to help support their child through assistance with homework and ensuring regular attendance at school. Parents are welcome to contact the school at anytime.
Pupil Support Assistants
We have several Pupil Support Assistants who work between fourteen classes. They are identified to work with specific children, e.g. behaviour support, exercises, personal care, scribing, keeping children focused.
Additional Support Needs Teachers
These are teachers identified to support children with their learning. They will often work in tandem with the class teacher in a general observation capacity. They will often give teachers’ advice or material to support learning. Support teachers work with children on an individual/group basis depending on individual needs. They work within the class or withdraw when necessary.
Psychological Services
The Educational Psychologist is available to staff for advice and support. Children may be referred through the Joint Support Team (school referral) or by parental request.
Joint Support Team
This is when the specialists mentioned meet with the school to discuss the way forward for individual children. No child’s name would initially be brought to the attention of the JST without prior consultation with the parents/guardian.
The JST meets approximately every 6 weeks and comprises of the School Nurse, Educational Psychologist, School Doctor, Speech Therapist, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Hearing Impaired Teacher, Visual Impaired Teacher, Social Worker and any other relevant outside agency as and when required.
Staged Intervention
Stage 1 Identification of difficulties by class teacher.
Stage 2 Involvement of school’s ASN co-ordinator. Parents will be contacted by letter or phone. Referral to JST may be discussed at this time.
Stage 3 Referral to other agencies outside Education, e.g. Educational, Social Work, Health staff.
Stage 4 Additional Support provided by extended multi-agency team. Consideration of a Co-ordinated Support Plan.
Stage 5 Additional Support provided by extended multi-agency team. Opening of a Co-ordinated Support Plan
Useful ASN Websites
http://www.dyslexiascotland.org.uk/
Enquire is the Scottish advice service for Additional Support for Learning. This website has ‘guides’ to download that aim to help pupils understand that it’s ok to ask for extra help in school, explain how support is planned, who might be involved in helping them and how to get involved in decisions and meetings about their education.
