Scottish Government
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Chidren with additional needs
Children with additional support needs are to receive an improved service as a result of new measures that will make it easier for teachers and health staff to work together.
More than 44,000 children in Scotland require additional support for their learning and many of these are likely to receive assistance from Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), who include speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists, among others.
However, there are fears that the quality of service children receive can vary depending on which part of the country they live in.
Following a wide-reaching consultation, the Scottish Government has now published national guidelines for health and education staff showing clearly, for the first time, how they can best work together.
Adam Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years, launched the new guidance at Armadale Primary School, West Lothian.
Speaking after the event, Mr Ingram said:
"I have seen the benefits that can be reaped by children and their families when staff come together, whether it is in planning, joint training, assessment or in coordinated support.
"This guidance is the culmination of a two year project which has seen extensive engagement with not only health and education professionals but also voluntary groups and parents. Taking a partnership approach can help us to make the most of the resources at our disposal.
"Children with additional support needs require extra help to achieve their full potential. In time of plenty that is easy to do. However, in the current financial climate our work needs to be innovative and collaborative, making partnership working more important than every before."
The guidance gives clear and concise information to school and NHS staff to help improve practice in providing support when a child needs additional help. As well as encouraging partnership working, it aims to make sure parents and wider family members are involved throughout.
Sheila Downie, Clinical Services Manager at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said:
"This Partnership Guidance is very welcome. In order to support children and young people to access the curriculum, it essential that AHPS/ education and parents work together and have full understanding of each others roles and responsibilities.
"AHP services are changing and, in order to support the right children at the right time, it is essential that universal services know when and how to access the appropriate support. This guidance very helpfully describes the different ways in which AHPs can work together with education to provide a range of support to children who require it."
The new guidance fits with the Scottish Government's Getting it right for every child approach that aims to get services and agencies working together to offer help and support that is appropriate, proportionate and timely.
There are nine Allied Health Professional Groups included in the term Allied Health Professions. These include: Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Orthoptists, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiographers, Orthotists and Prosthetists, Arts Therapists, Podiatrists and Dieticians.
Getting it right for every child aims to improve outcomes for every child and young person in Scotland by providing a framework for services and agencies working with them to deliver a co-ordinated approach.
The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Acts 2004 & 2009 provide the framework for delivering support to children and young people who have additional support needs caused by barriers to learning.
