Additional Support Needs
Townhead Primary School complies with the Additional Support for Learning (Scotland) Act 2004 as amended by the Additional Support for Learning (Scotland) Act 2009 and the Additional Support for Learning: Statutory Guidance 2017.
North Lanarkshire Council’s policy is contained within “Support for Learning Policy into Practice 2”, a copy of which is available in the school. The school has a Support for Learning Policy, available from the school on request, which is consistent with North Lanarkshire Council guidelines.
Through a process of staged intervention and, where appropriate, in conjunction with other appropriate agencies, the school will work to support these pupils and their families within the framework of the new legislation and in line with the Code of Practice.
Every attempt will be made to ensure that an appropriately balanced curriculum is provided in order to meet the needs of every child and that he/she is encouraged to work to his/her full potential.
As part of the ongoing assessment taking place throughout the year, teachers will identify pupils who may require additional support to fully access aspects of the curriculum. This assessment informs the teacher’s planning for those children identified to ensure success. This support may be short or long term and is the responsibility of the class teacher. Teachers may also identify training to ensure that the pupil is given every opportunity to make appropriate progress.
Our school policy in relation to pupils with additional support needs reflect learning and leisure services staged intervention process that is:
Level 1 Support: All class teachers have the responsibility for preparing and teaching material which will allow each pupil to work towards achievable goals.
Level 2 Support: Learning Support may be allocated to help meet pupils’ needs and discussion of this additional teaching will be undertaken with the parents. An Additional Support Plan will be drawn up for pupils with significant needs. Learning Support is also aimed at the more able pupil.
Level 3 Support: External support is available from within Learning & Leisure services, where it is identified that the child or young person requires support or planning from beyond the school or early years setting but within educational services.
Level 4 Support: External support may be provided on a multiagency basis, where the child or young persons are identified as requiring support or planning from other agencies outwith education such as health, social work and/or voluntary services and these support needs are likely to last for more than one year.
We aim to educate all our pupils according to their age and ability and to assist them to achieve their full potential. There is a Support for Learning policy within the school, which is available to parents. One vital aspect is the early involvement of parents. Should your child be experiencing learning difficulties, you will be involved as early as possible and become actively involved throughout the processes/plans drafted to assist your child.
As various times throughout the year we have visiting specialist who cater for a wide range of needs:
- Educational Psychologist
- Physiotherapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Paediatrician
- Speech and Language Therapist
- School Nurse
Visits to individual pupils are arranged through the Head Teacher at a convenient time to the pupils as well as the specialist.
Looked After children i.e. children who are cared for directly or whose care is supervised by the local authority are deemed to have Additional Support Needs unless assessment determines otherwise. Mrs Ferguson, Head Teacher and Miss Edwards, Principal Teacher, are the designated co-ordinators for Looked After & Accommodated Children.
Parents and pupils are an essential part of the assessment, planning and review processes and your views will be actively sought. Parents and young people can request an assessment at any time to establish whether a child has additional needs and/or requires a Co-ordinated Support Plan.
Getting It Right For Me Plans:
(GIRFMe) enable staff to plan effectively for children and young people when interventions are required to support their learning and improve outcomes. Parents/Carers and pupils are an essential part of the assessment; planning and review processes and their views will be actively sought.
Some children and young people may require significant support from education and at least one other agency, such as health, social work and/or voluntary agency to help them meet their learning targets. Where this support requires a high level of coordination, the opening of a Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP) may be considered. A CSP may be initiated by the school or another agency.
Parents/Carers and young people can, if they wish, request that a CSP be considered and would be involved in the process. Parents/carers will receive letters from the Education Authority throughout the CSP process. Parents/Carers and young people will be invited to take part in multiagency meetings and their views will be recorded in the plan.
Where more intensive support for a child or young person needs to be planned for, usually when a number of agencies are involved in supporting their wellbeing then a Child’s Plan may be developed. The plan will tell you what actions need to be taken and who will help with each action. It will usually be someone called a ‘Lead Professional’ who will have the job of making sure that the actions outlined in the plan take place and things get better for the child or young person.
Planning: Getting It Right For Me (GIRFMe) enable staff to plan effectively for children and young people with Additional Support Needs.
Some children and young people may require significant support from education and at least one other agency, such as health, social work and/or voluntary agency to help them meet their learning targets. Where this support requires a high level of co-ordination the opening of a Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP) may be considered. A CSP may be initiated by the school or other agency.
Parents and young people can, if they wish, request that a CSP be considered and would be involved in the process. Parents will receive letters from the Education Authority throughout the CSP process. Parents and young people will be invited to take part in multi-agency meetings and their views will be recorded in the plan.
