ASN Support for Parents
As adults we know that each of us have our own circumstances that affect the opportunities and challenge, we face. We know that our children also face individual challenges throughout their primary school journey. Some of our children have additional support needs. Additional support needs is an umbrella term that just means that a child requires some extra support to help them learn to the best of their ability. This can be due to a range of circumstances including neurodiversity, anxiety, family circumstances or physical illness.
If you are concerned that your child needs additional support for their learning please always discuss this with the school. The team at Garnetbank are excellent at identifying where a child needs extra support and putting a plan in place to help them learn. Also, if there are any issues outside of school that may impact your child, please do keep the school informed – this helps make sure your child is supported through potentially challenging times.
As a group of parents, Garnetbank Parent Council has collated some resources that we have found useful in supporting our own children through their school journeys. This is by no means a complete list. We will continue updating and adding to it as we learn more and hope to hear from you if there are more things that you think would be useful to include here.
Garnetbank Parent Council also has a whatsapp based ASN group where parents and carers can share experiences and resources to help each other through their own journeys with ASN. You can join this by scanning this QR code:
Sincerely,
Garnetbank Parent Council
This section includes a number of services that are useful for people in a range of circumstances
Enquire
Enquire is the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning. Providing easy to understand advice and information about additional support for learning legislation and guidance for families and professionals. This website has lots of useful advice on the supports that you and your child can expect through school.
Differabled Scotland
This charity offers support services and learning opportunities that empower, enlighten and promote neurodivergent understanding and inclusivity in society. They run emotional support and ASN educational sessions for families and professionals.
Mindroom
Mindroom is a charity that champions all forms of neurodiversity and supports all kinds of minds.
Sense Scotland Charity
Sense Scotland is a charity helping people with complex needs. They’re here to help individuals and their families find the right service, support or information they need, when they need it. If you’re looking for information and are unsure who to contact – you can use their information line and they will avdise you on how to proceed.:
Phone on 0300 373 0808 between 10am and 4pm, Monday – Thursday
Contact
Contact is a charity for families with disabled children. They have a helpline and can provide support and information in other ways.
Family Fund Scotland
Family Fund provides a wide range of grants to families living in Scotland raising a disabled, or seriously ill, child or young adult on a low income.
Citizens Advice Scotland
Citizens Advice can offer information on a range of benefits and supports that may be available to you and your family. They can also explain if you are able to apply for any additional benefits to support you in caring for a family member with a serious illness or disability.
Home Start
Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times. They are there for parents when they need help because childhood can’t wait. Home start mainly work with families of children up to 5 years of age.
One Parent Families Scotland
OPFS is works with single parent families in Scotland. They provide advice and practical support.
Education Law Unit, Govan Law Centre
Govan Law Centre’s Education Law Unit is an expert legal resource in the field of school education. We focus on tackling discrimination, promoting human rights and the rights of disabled pupils and pupils with additional support needs.
This section has resources that are more specific to support people with neurodiversity
Amazing Things Happen
This is a video that explains neurodiversity specifically in the context of autism
Scottish Autism
Scottish Autism is a charity that has excellent resources that can support patients at any point of their journey from wondering if their child may be neurodiverse to getting a diagnosis. They identify up to 5 areas of support with families which might include: Understanding autism, education, sleep, stress and anxiety and more. They have a helpline and an online chat option for support.
National Autistic Society
This website links to the National Autistic Society’s pages about the supports they offer in Scotland.
Cauldwell Children
Caudwell Children is a charity that provides autism support. You can apply through their website for services, support and sensory packs.
Autism Atlas
Autism Atlas is an autism-led social enterprise that provides community support, information and courses from the perspective of people with autism.
SWAN Scotland
SWAN Places are in-person social meet-up groups in locations across Scotland. They are autistic spaces, run by autistic volunteers. These local groups are relaxed and laid-back gatherings for all women and non-binary people who identify as autistic.
They meet in Glasgow Women’s Library, 23 Landressy Street, G40 1BP, on the 3rd Tuesday of every month. More information for meetups is available on their website
Support with sensory differences – online course
This is an online course run by NHS Grater Glasgow and Clyde to help parents understand and improve the strategies they have to help children with sensory differences.
Autism Toolbox
The Autism Toolbox is a free online resource developed to support the inclusion of autistic learners in Scottish education. They have a wide variety of online resources
Dyslexia
Dyslexia Scotland
Dyslexia Scotland is a membership organisation striving to make Scotland a more dyslexia-friendly country. They have a helpline for advice, offer training and advice.
GCU Vision Centre
GCU Vision Centre offer appointments at their Visual Stress Clinic to test for different types of dyslexia and make specialised glasses to help with reading. There is more information on their website or you can phone them: 0141 331 3377
Activities for families with ASN
Linn Park Adventure Playground (Glasgow Life)
Linn Park Adventure Playground is an indoor and outdoor play centre for children up to eleven years of age with additional support needs and their families. The Park is designed to be a secure environment where children and their family can enjoy their time together. It is suitable for children up to 11 years of age.
Use of the playground is free but should ideally be booked in advance.
Take a Break Scotland
Take a Break is Scotland’s short breaks fund for carers of disabled children, young people and their families. Take a Break grants can be used for a break away, towards leisure activities or outings; sports equipment and much, much more.
ASN Soft Play
Kelvin Hall have ASN friendly soft play sessions on a Wednesday
ATG Access Membership Scheme
Membership of this scheme facilitates booking accessible theatre seats online along with companion tickets.
Possobilities Centre
Possobilities is a volunteer organisation providing community services offering support and respite to disabled and vulnerable people in our community. They have a sensory room which is available for hire
Glasgow Groovers
A Makaton Tutor/Musician who creates inclusive sensory, signing and music sessions.
Search ‘Glasgow Groovers’ on social media or email glasgowgroovers@gmail.com
Kugatsu Karate
The Kugatsu Karate-Do, part of the Karate Fun family, was established in 1995 and is a thriving karate club with over 150 students based throughout the north and west of Glasgow, teaching Shukokai Karate to students of all ages and abilities.
Swimming
Swimsation Swimming Lessons is a swim school which offers lessons for all ages and stages. The instructors at their Doubletree Westerwood venue have been highly recommended by one of our parents for teaching children with ASN.
