Support for Pupils

All children and young people need support to help them learn. The main sources of support in schools are the staff who, through their normal practice, are able to meet a diverse range of needs. With good quality teaching and learning and an appropriate curriculum, most children and young people are able to benefit appropriately from education without the need for additional support. Some children require additional support at different stages through school. The definition of additional support is a wide one and it is not
possible to provide an exhaustive list of all possible forms of additional support, but could include:

• children who have a disability
• children with social, emotional and behavioural needs
• children with learning needs of a specific or general nature
• children who require challenge
• those who demonstrate underachievement relating to gender issues
• children whose learning has been interrupted through absence or illness
• children who have English as an additional language
• children from travelling families
• children whose family circumstances impact on attendance and learning.

St Patrick’s has an Additional Support Needs Co-ordinator whom parents should speak to if you think that your child requires additional support in school. Mrs Coggins, our Principal Teacher, is the ASN Co-ordinator for St Patrick’s.

As with all local authority schools in Scotland, St Patrick’s operates under the terms of the Additional Support for Learning Act (2009) and its accompanying Code of Practice. These procedures have been strengthened through the Children and Young People Act (2014). Therefore, a child or young person’s needs are identified at the earliest possible stage and can be met in a number of ways, for example by adaptations to the curriculum or learning environment, as well as input from the Support for Learning Teachers and, on
occasion, support from visiting specialists. The appropriateness of the support is determined through a process of assessment, planning and monitoring, working jointly with children, parents and teachers and is reviewed regularly.  Learning outcomes for children and young people with additional support needs are set out in a plan and then reviewed at meetings with parents to determine any needs and the most appropriate supports.

Everyone’s views are equally important in order to consider what is currently working and how to determine next steps.
Children’s needs are identified in a number of ways, and the process of assessment is an ongoing, shared process in partnership with parents at the forefront. On some occasions, health service staff or other partner agencies will make children known to Education Services. Other additional support needs may be notified
to Education Services by parents themselves or identified by one of a range of staff working closely with the child.
Some children will have additional support needs that arise from complex or multiple factors and require a high degree of co-ordination of support from both education and other agencies in order that their needs can be met. In these cases, the school will hold a meeting to decide whether the child or young person meets the criteria for a co-ordinated support plan. The coordinated support plan is a statutory document which ensures regular monitoring and review for children and young people who have one.
You have the right to ask the education authority to establish whether your child needs a coordinated support plan. You and your child, if they want to, will attend a meeting with staff at school. Other professionals from different agencies who may be involved in providing support for your child will also attend. If your child does not want to attend meetings or feels unable to, their views must still be sought and considered.

Further information about additional support needs can be found on the Parentzone website; https://education.gov.scot/parentzone/additional-support/.

Inverclyde’s mediation service can be accessed by contacting Mr Tony McEwan, Head of Inclusive Education, Culture and Corporate Policy at the address below.

For further advice please telephone 01475 712850.
Or write to:
Education Services
Wallace Place
GREENOCK, PA15 1JB