How can a parent request an assessment for additional support needs in Scotland?
Parents can ask the education authority to assess whether their child has additional support needs. Where the legal conditions apply, parents, eligible children and young people can also request particular types of assessment or examination.
Scotland has a separate additional support for learning framework. Check current Scottish Government guidance and your education authority’s procedures.
What to put in the request
- Identify the child and school.
- Describe the barriers to learning and why you believe more assessment is needed.
- Summarise support already tried and what is still not working.
- Attach or list relevant school, health or professional information.
- If you are requesting a particular assessment, explain what question you need it to answer.
Who can make requests
Scottish guidance recognises rights for parents and young people, and for eligible children aged 12 or over who have the capacity to exercise particular rights. The exact right depends on the type of request, so it is important to distinguish a request to assess additional support needs from a request about a co-ordinated support plan or school placement.
Can the authority refuse a particular assessment?
The authority can treat some requests as unreasonable. If that happens, ask for the decision and reasons in writing and check what review, complaint or dispute route applies to the specific decision.
What to collect
- recent school reports and support plans
- attendance or exclusion information where relevant
- examples of work or communication showing the barrier
- reports from health or other professionals
- a short chronology of concerns, meetings and support tried
Official and authoritative sources
Scottish Government — Identifying and Assessing Needs
Scottish Government — Overview of rights under the 2004 Act
Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004
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