School is not providing the additional support your child needs in Scotland — what next?

What to do first

1. Ask for the current support plan and most recent review notes.
2. List the support that is missing or inconsistent, with dates and examples.
3. Explain the impact on learning, attendance, participation or wellbeing.
4. Ask for a meeting and a written action plan with responsibilities and review dates.

Separate “support is not working” from “support is not happening”

If support is being delivered but is ineffective, the plan may need reassessment. If agreed support is simply not being delivered, ask who is responsible for fixing the implementation problem and by when.

If there is a CSP

A CSP is statutory. Check exactly what the plan says, who is responsible for each part and whether the problem concerns the authority or an appropriate agency. CSP-related disputes can have specific legal routes, so obtain independent advice before choosing a formal process.

Escalating the concern

Use the school and local-authority complaints process for appropriate service complaints. For disagreements under the 2004 Act, mediation, independent adjudication or the First-tier Tribunal may be available depending on the issue. These routes are not interchangeable.

Where to get independent help

Enquire is the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning and can help families understand rights and next steps. Children aged 12–15 with additional support needs may also have access to specialist rights-support services.