ASN (Scotland)

A school's responsibilities

Additional support for learning: statutory guidance 2017 sets out that schools have a number of responsibilities to support ASN children and young people. Schools must:

• make adequate and efficient provision for the additional support required for each child or young person with additional support needs
• publish, review and update, as necessary, specified information about their ASN policy
• provide parents of children with additional support needs with all of the information they are required to publish under the Act
• provide those children or young people, who need one, with a co-ordinated support plan and keep this plan under regular review
• provide independent and free mediation services for those parents and young people who want to use such services and publish information on these services

What schools and further education settings can do

• Create a whole-school environment emphasising inclusion and cooperation.
• Have high aspirations for all children and young people.
• Deliver social and emotional skills programmes which aim to build resilience:
  • With a learning plan, or a co-ordinated support plan, that builds skills step-by-step to improve success and gives children and young people a chance to test skills out and receive encouragement and feedback.
• Develop pupils' understanding of difference and ensure all children and young people value difference in others.
  • Inclusiveness can be developed through good quality Health and Wellbeing lessons promoting relationships and diversity.
• Support children and young people with ASN to feel accepted and to belong.
• Tackle bullying and discrimination.
• See children and young people as a whole rather than focusing just on their disability or illness.
• Work closely with parents and carers of SEN children, helping them feel involved in their child's learning.
• Be alert to early signs of escalating risk to mental health and mobilise protective factors to prevent further escalation.
• Provide children and young people with extra support, if needed (e.g. through pastoral care/school counselling, school nurses or through referral to community-based support.