Orchard Primary school complies with Learning (Scotland) Act 2004 as amended by the Education (Additional Support for Learning (Scotland) Act 2009
North Lanarkshire’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.
In Orchard Primary we ensure that all children are provided with a curricular experience which is appropriate to their age, stage and development. This may be achieved through class, group and individual teaching approaches enabling children to reach their full potential. However, some children may, at times in their school life, experience a learning difficulty or a barrier in accessing the curriculum fully. Through ongoing formal and informal assessment class teachers will identify where a pupil requires additional support. At this point targets are set in the form of a Learning Plan or personal targets, in consultation with pupils and parents. These plans are formally reviewed on a termly basis with annual reviews with parents.
Class teachers are responsible for meeting the needs of all the children in their class. Additional support may be provided by staff with additional responsibility for supporting learning and/or the senior Leadership Team. This support may include additional teaching in smaller groups or 1:1, advice to the class teacher, provision of appropriate materials and practical help within the classroom.
The school follows North Lanarkshire Council’s Support for Learning Policy through the implementation of a staged intervention process:
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 setting.
Level 2 – Internal support, where education staff identify that a child or young person needs support or planning from within the school.
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 but within educational services.
Level 4 – External support provided on a multi-agency basis, where the children or young person’s needs are identified as requiring support or planning from multi-agency services and these support needs will last for more than one year.
Orchard Primary is able to cater for a wide range of additional support needs in the mainstream and specific needs within the Language and communication support centre. The school works closely with Psychological Services and regular meetings are held with the school Educational Psychologist to discuss progress and support for pupils. Other services include N.H.S. Lanarkshire, Hearing and Visual Impairment, Bilingual Services, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Social Services (including Transport and Housing).
Where a child has English as an additional language they will be supported within school and, where appropriate, by North Lanarkshire’s Bilingual Services.
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. We have procedures in place which ensure that all Looked After Children are closely monitored and supported. Within Orchard the Head teacher takes overall responsibility for individual Looked After Children, monitoring their educational progress and overall wellbeing.
Parents and young people can request an assessment to establish whether a child or young person has additional support needs or requires a Co-ordinated Support Plan. This request should be formally made in writing to the Head teacher although the Head teacher welcomes parents with concerns to discuss these concerns with her in the first instance.
Parent and pupils are an essential part of the assessment, planning and review process 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.
Planning
Getting it Right for Me Plans (Formally ASPs) enable staff to plan for children and young people with Additional Support Needs. Some children may require significant support from education and at least one other agency, such as health, social work, 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 (C.S.P.) may be considered. Parents and young people can, if they wish, request a C.S.P. and are very much part of the process. A C.S.P. may be initiated by the school or another agency. Parents will receive letters from the Education Authority throughout the process of producing a C.S.P. Parents and young people will be invited to take part in multi-agency meetings and their views will be recorded in the plan.
