Education (Additional Support for Learning)
(Scotland) Act 2004

Which children may require a Co-ordinated Support Plan?

There will be a small group of children and young people who have significant additional support needs arising from

- complex or multiple factors which are

- likely to last for more than one year and

- which require a high degree of co-ordination of support from the Education Authority and other agencies.

If the Education Authority is responsible for the school education of these children/young people they may require a Co-ordinated Support Plan.

What are Complex Factors?

A complex factor is a factor which has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse affect on the school education of the child or young person. It is likely that it will affect most aspects of learning. Some examples of complex factors:

Learning environment— where the learning and teaching approaches and curriculum are significantly at odds with what the child or young person requires and are therefore having a significant adverse effect on their school learning
Family Circumstances—where family life is disrupted, perhaps through family bereavement, parental alcohol, drug or domestic abuse or mental health problems, and the child or young person is not receiving the parental support, direction and guidance needed to make the most of school education.
Disability or Health—Impairments such as blindness, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorders, specific language impairment or developmental co-ordination disorder require measures to be put in place if the child or young person is to benefit from school education. In addition some children with a mental health problem such as depression or anorexia may experience significant disruption to their school education.
Social and Emotional factors— children or young people may have social and emotional difficulties which prevent them attending school regularly, such as behaviour difficulties which may lead to offending or being bullied.

What are Multiple Factors?

Multiple factors are those which in themselves are not complex but taken together have, or are likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the school education of the child or young person.

For example a child may have a mild sensory impairment, have a close family bereavement, live in disadvantaged social circumstances and because of their sensory impairment the physical environment of the school may be making learning difficult . Each of these may not have a significant effect on the child’s education but the overall effect is such that the school education of the child or young person is being adversely affected to a significant degree.

It must be stressed that it is the affect on school education that is important not any diagnostic label alone.

Every child or young person will be considered on an individual basis. What may be complex or multiple factors with a significant adverse effect for one child or young person may not be for another. In most cases, existing processes eg, Individualised Educational Programmes or a Social Work Care Plan, may be sufficient to meet the child or young person’s needs.

What is meant by a High Degree of Co-ordination of Support?

A child/young person who needs significant support from at least one service outwith the Education Authority will need a high degree of co-ordination of that support. This can include support provided by another department of the Highland Council, eg. Social Work, OR another “appropriate agency” eg. NHS Highland.

Who is the Education Authority Responsible for?

The Education Authority is responsible for the school education of children and young people who live in the Council Area and who:

Are under 3 years of age and have been referred to the Education Authority by NHS Highland because they are disabled
Are in pre-school or partner centre provision established by or on behalf of the Education Authority
Are in school education in Highland
Have been placed by The Highland Council outside Highland and are receiving education there.