Overtown Primary School 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. Account is taken of differences in ability and rates of learning. Help is given on a short or long term basis to any child who has difficulties. Individual targets are set for such a child by the class teacher or by a particular member of staff whose job it is for a session to work with children who have difficulties. We have a stock of materials which suit not only the work level of the child, but also the interest and maturity of the child. If required, guidance is
sought from the Network Support Team, to help the particular child’s development. Parents would be contacted concerning such help. When a pupil has additional support needs we follow Learning and Leisure Services process of staged intervention, that is:
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 education 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 will last for more than one year. We support a range of needs including those of our more able pupils, children having short term
difficulties and issues highlighted through our assessment procedures. We work closely with specialist services such as Psychological Services and Speech and Language Services. When we require it we access
support from the English as an Additional Language unit. 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. Parents and pupils are an essential part of the assessment, planning and reviewprocesses 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
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 a n d / o r 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.
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 Co-ordinated Support Plan, either the creation of a CSP, or the
content of it, you may be entitled to refer to the Tribunal.
