All children and young people need support to help them learn.
Some need more help than others
All children and young people have additional support needs if for any reason they require additional support, long or short term, in order to help them make the most of their school education.
Additional support needs fall into four categories:
- Learning Environment
- Family Circumstances
- Disability and Health
- Social and Emotional factors
It is expected that most needs will be supported by Education Services.
Some children and young people with additional support needs may require help from other agencies, as well as Education, in order to be able to manage their learning more easily.
A need for additional support does not imply that a child or young person lacks abilities or skills.
Some types of additional support are:
- Tutorial support from a support for learning teacher to help with reading
- Counselling for a child coping with bereavement
- Communication programme drawn up by a speech and language therapist and teacher and implemented in the classroom
- Planned outdoor activities with a support worker to build self esteem
The additional support needs of most children and young people will be met through present systems such as an Individualised Educational Programme (IEP).
A small number of children and young people may have additional support needs which are significant, are multiple or complex, and will last for a year or more, and will require support from more than one agency.
Children with these needs may require a Co-ordinated Support Plan.
The Record of Needs system will be discontinued. All children and young people who have a Record of Needs will be considered as having additional support needs.
Over a period of 2 years from the start of the Act in November 2005, the local authority will review every child and young person who has a Record of Needs. They will ensure that they all get the support they need to help them learn.
Under the Act the local authority has a stronger duty to provide support for all children and young people with additional support needs, a small number of whom, may require a Co-ordinated Support Plan.
Those who do not need a Co-ordinated Support Plan will have the safeguard that their present level of support will continue for a further 2 years unless there is a change in the child’s or young person's needs during that time.
- Your child’s school
- Your Area Education Manager:
Badenoch & Strathspey 01540 661009
Caithness 01955 602362
Inverness 01463 663800
Lochaber 01397 707350
Nairn 01463 663800
Ross & Cromarty 01349 863441
Skye & Lochalsh 01478 613697
Sutherland 01408 623900
- CHIP+ - 01463 711189
- Co-ordinator (Additional Support Needs Team): 01463 701326
There is further information on the Education Page of the website.
The Highland Schools Virtual Library also has a Support for Learners Page, with more information.