Newmains Primary School and Nursery Class complies with the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 as amended by the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009. 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.
This Act focuses on the individual. It requires that pupils be supported as necessary in order for them to participate in the full life of the school and emphasises provision of the appropriate support required for all children to learn. Newmains Primary School’s Support for Learning Policy aims to ensure that staff is aware of the needs of all children and that an appropriately differentiated curriculum is offered.
The aims of the Newmains Primary School policy are as follows:
- To achieve as far as possible a whole school structured approach to support the learning of all children by providing a differentiated curriculum to meet the needs of individuals.
- To encourage and develop positive attitudes to learning and promote self-esteem and self- worth in every child.
- To ensure a structure of support that enables the class strategies and resources to meet the needs of all children of all ages, aptitudes and abilities.
- To ensure that children with special educational needs are given the opportunity to succeed at their level and to encourage them to become independent learners as far as possible.
Class teachers are responsible for teaching all children in their class but where a specific difficulty is identified additional support will be sought within the school. If the child requires further support assistance is provided from Area Network Support.
In addition a child may receive support on a multiagency basis, where the child’s needs are identified as requiring support or planning from multiagency services and these support needs will last for more than one year. They can advise, provide appropriate materials or teach the child directly.
Should a child experience a difficulty, parents will be informed of support to be given to their child and are invited to contact the school to discuss progress and next steps in learning.
The school has excellent relationships with psychological services and regular meetings are held to discuss the progress and support of individual pupils. In addition, pupils who are working beyond the level of other class members will be provided with an appropriate programme.
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. The Head/ Principal Teacher will coordinate arrangements for such 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 of the authority to establish whether a child has additional support needs. They can also request an assessment at any time.
Newmains Primary School fully implements North Lanarkshire Council Learning and Leisure Services staged intervention process, i.e.
Level 1 – Internal support, where education staff identify that a child or young person needs support or planning which can be met within the existing classroom or playroom setting.
Level 2 – Internal support, where education staff identify that a child or young person needs support or planning from within the school or early years establishment.
Level 3 – External support from within learning and 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 – External support provided on a multiagency basis, where the child or young person’s needs are identified as requiring support or planning from multiagency services and these support needs are likely to last for more than one year.
Planning
Additional Support Plans (ASPs) 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 another 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.
For pupils with English as an additional language, support may also available, based on assessed needs.
Dispute Resolution
North Lanarkshire Council is committed to resolving any differences of views through discussion, dialogue and building on common ground.
If the matter cannot be resolved with the Education Authority you have the right to request mediation. An independent mediation service is available to parents and young people through Resolve (see contact details at the back of this handbook). Mediation is free and independent of the Education Authority.
In the event that a disagreement cannot be resolved through mediation, then an application for Independent Adjudication (see contact details at the back of this handbook) can be made by parents free of charge. The Independent Adjudicator will make recommendations to the Education Authority about how the dispute should be resolved.
The Additional Support Needs Tribunal has been set up to hear appeals made by parents or young people on the decisions made by the Education Authority relating to Co-ordinated Support Plans, placing requests and post school transition. If you disagree with any decision relating to your child’s Coordinated Support Plan, either the creation of a CSP, or the content of it, you may be entitled to refer to the Tribunal.
Bob Duncan Wishaw/Shotts is the school’s Additional Support Manager. He can be contacted at c/o Muirhouse Primary School, 66 Barons Road, Motherwell, ML1 2NB. (01698 252041)
Enquire- the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning. Operated by Children in Scotland, Enquire offers independent confidential advice and information on additional support for learning. Enquire also provide a range of factsheets. 0845 123 2303. info@enquire.irg.uk www.enquire.org.uk
Resolve 0131 222 2456 (Independent Adjudicator)
Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance: Melrose House, 69a George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2JG. 0131 260 5380, enquiry@siaa.org.uk www.siaa.org.uk
Additional Support Needs Tribunal (Scotland) Europa Building, 450 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G2 8LH. Helpline: 0845 120 2906. Fax: 0141 242 0141. ASNTSinquiries@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
