What are additional support needs in Scotland?
In Scotland, a child or young person can have additional support needs if, for any reason, they need extra help to benefit from school education. The reason can be learning, health, communication, family circumstances, emotional wellbeing, disability or another barrier to learning.
Scotland has a separate additional support for learning framework. Check current Scottish Government guidance and your education authority’s procedures.
What this means
Additional support needs (often shortened to ASN) is deliberately broad. It is not limited to a particular diagnosis or disability, and a need can be short-term, long-term or change over time.
The key question is whether the child or young person needs additional help to benefit from education. Scottish guidance also treats looked-after children and young people as having additional support needs, while requiring authorities to consider what support and planning they need.
What to do today
- Write down the barriers to learning you are seeing, not only any diagnosis or label.
- Ask the school what support is already being provided and how its impact is being reviewed.
- Ask for a meeting if the support is unclear, inconsistent or not working.
- Keep copies of plans, meeting notes and relevant professional reports.
What support can look like
Support may include changes to teaching, communication support, help with emotional regulation, additional adult support, specialist advice, health or social-work involvement, adapted materials, assistive technology, or a more formal planning process. The right package depends on the individual child.
A useful starting point
Do not wait for a perfect label before raising concerns. Start with the child’s current barriers, what happens in school, what has already been tried and what would help them participate and learn more effectively.
Official and authoritative sources
Scottish Government — Understanding Additional Support Needs
Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004
Enquire — Scottish advice service for additional support for learning
Community
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