Connect has created a diagram. Engaging Parents and Supporting Young People, to help parents set out to schools and early learning centres how they would like the discussion about their child's individual strengths and their support needs to happen. Feel free to take this into school if you wish or share with others! Download it here.
What support can I expect for my child with additional needs and how do I access this?
Your family and your child can expect to be supported. You may need health/social care support and/or support with your child's learning.
For social care or if you are struggling to cope, get in touch with your local authority or your GP urgently.
For support with your child’s learning:
- Speak to/email your child’s teacher/support for learning teacher to discuss your child’s learning and talk about what your family needs and what works for your child. Your child/young person may need their school work to be organised in a way that works for them.
- If you are not able to contact the teacher/support for learning teacher, contact the school’s head teacher.
- If you are not able to contact the head teacher, or you need more advice/help, get in touch with your local authority’s support for learning/additional support needs/educational psychologist contact. These contacts are listed on Enquire’s website here.
For support with mental health:
See our list of organisations and helplines for parents, children and young people here.
Key Contacts
Enquire: Scotland’s national agency for additional support for learning offers a helpline 0345 123 2303 and lots of advice and information on its website.
Enable: Providers of care and campaign organisation for children and adults who have learning disabilities.
Reach is Enquire’s website for children and young people with additional support needs.
Inclusion Ambassadors: Read about the fantastic work of the Inclusion Ambassadors, children and young people who champion the voices, talents and achievements of young people with additional support needs.
Call Scotland: Specialists in digital access and equipment for learners with additional support needs, Call Scotland’s website has information on apps, making learning accessible, tips for helping your child manage their own learning and much more.
Mindroom runs a helpline offering support to parents, family and young people 0131 370 6730 or text 07990 015104. Email directhelp@mindroom.org or message Mindroom on Facebook.
Created by ARC Scotland, Compass is a resource for young people, their parents and those who work with them to support transitions into adulthood.
Lead Scotland focusses on learning for disabled people.
Sense Scotland works with children and adults who have communication support needs because of deafblindness, sensory impairment, learning and physical disabilities.
Sleep Action supports families of children and young people with additional support needs and sleep problems.
A sister organisation, TEENS (Transitional Education, Extra Needs Support), a 4-year education programme, supporting young people with complex support needs to make the transition from school to adult life.
CELCIS is the Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland, working to improve the lives of looked after children in Scotland.
Talking about Tomorrow: This website is all about transitions and is managed by Contact, which offers general advice for families with disabled children.
Young Scot has information for young people on a wide range of topics.
Children's Health Scotland: informs and campaigns on behalf of sick children and young people within our healthcare system. It has a publication on The Rights of Children and Young People with Health Issues to School Age Education and to Healthcare in School.
Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland (ASNTS): The tribunal system for challenging decisions relating to additional support needs provision and services.
Specific Disabilities and Support Needs
Dyslexia Scotland: Addressing Dyslexia Toolkit, Dyslexia Unwrapped
Royal National Institute for the Blind
Mencap’s Health Unlocked online community can be found here.
Your Rights and the Rights of Your Child
Enquire has a section on your rights and those of your child here. Education Scotland’s Parentzone website has a useful page on your rights as a parent under the Parental Involvement Act and the Additional Support for Learning Act here.
The My Rights, My Say website for 12 to 15 year olds is here.
Advocacy
Families look for someone to speak up for them when they feel they aren’t getting the help and support they need. This is called ‘advocacy’. You can contact the organisations below to see if advocacy is the next step for you.
Resolve Mediation: A mediation service for difficulties and disagreements about a child or young person's education, managed by Children in Scotland
Let's Talk ASN: The Scottish Government's national advocacy service for disputes or potential disputes, run in partnership with the Govan Law Centre and Barnardo's
Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance – a directory of independent advocacy services by region.