Latest News
This section will bring you all the latest news which is relevant to additional support needs in Scotland.
23rd September 2007
SCOTLAND'S FIRST ABA SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
ABA is a very successful behavioural approach to teaching children with autism. There are ABA schools all over the British Isles. Now a group of parents is hoping to set up the first ABA school in Scotland.
It would be modelled on the Tree House School in London, which has received very positive Ofsted reports and has achieved National Autistic Society autism accreditation.
If you are interested, please come to a meeting at 7.30 p.m. on Sunday 23rd September 2007 at the Burgh Halls, Linlithgow. For more information, you can contact Christine Mahony by email or call 01506 848087 - please leave a message.
27 March 2006
As of 27 March 2006, the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland have a brand new set of rules. Actually, the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland (Practice and Procedure) Rules 2006 are not greatly different from the 2005 Rules, but introduce some minor amendments:
- Part II contains rules about the start of proceedings before the Tribunals. In this Part changes are made from the previous Rules in rule 5 in which provision has now been made in relation to the deemed refusal of placing requests.
- Part III contains rules about the management powers of Tribunals. In this Part rule 14 has been amended to clarify that a convener or Tribunal has discretion as to whether to suspend proceedings even where parties are so agreed.
- Part IV contains rules in relation to evidence for references to the Tribunals. In this Part, some changes are made from the previous Rules. Rules 21 and 22 are modified to clarify that the persons to whom citations for the recovery of documents and attendance of witnesses may be sent are not restricted to those in Scotland; and Rule 24 is changed to remove the provision for the Secretary to pay fees to experts appointed under that rule.
- Part V contains rules about hearings before, and decisions of, the Tribunals. In this Part changes are made from the previous Rules. Rules 27 and 28 are altered to provide separately for the respective entitlement to be in attendance at hearings held in private of interpreters and those giving necessary assistance to persons entitled to be to be in attendance; Rule 37 is changed to remove the provision in terms of which a statement of the facts found by the Tribunal and of the reasons for its decision was not required in the case of a decision by consent; and Rule 39 removes the provision in terms of which an order as to expenses could be made as respects the expenses of an expert appointed to assist the Tribunal or of a person appointed under rule 33(2) to facilitate the giving of evidence by a child.
- Part VI contains miscellaneous and general provisions which apply to proceedings before the Tribunals. In this Part a change has been made to rule 46(1) to clarify the circumstances in which it applies.
14 November 2005
The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 comes into force in full today. Large parts of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 are repealed or amended. The term "special educational needs" is excised from Scots law. All Records of Needs cease to exist as statutory documents. However, those pupils with a Record of Needs do receive some transitional protection, as follows:
- all recorded pupils are automatically deemed to have additional support needs;
- the education authority must determine whether such children require a co-ordinated support plan, and must do so within 2 years;
- the support provided under a Record of Needs may not be reduced by the authority until
- the pupil receives a co-ordinated support plan instead;
- two years elapses from the date of the authority's decision that the pupil does not require a co-ordinated support plan; or
- there is a substantial change in the pupil's needs.
Additionally, the Record of Needs documentation may be retained for a total of 5 years for reference purposes.