Additional Support Needs

An additional support need comes from anything which is a barrier to learning.  Most or all schools will have some children with additional support needs of some kind.  The education authority has many legal duties towards pupils with additional support needs.  Information about this is contained in a booklet called In On The Act : Information For The General Public which is published on the education authority website at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/inontheact - or contact the additional support for learning team on telephone number 469 3444.

If you have any queries about where exactly to place this statement on your website and school handbook, please contact Adam O'Brien, Parent and Pupil Support Manager for Additional Support for Learning on telephone number 469 3444 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

• We believe that ‘Additional Support Needs’ (ASN) arise from the personal characteristics, needs and circumstances of the individual learner at a given point in time.
• We recognise that it is the responsibility of all staff to promote effective teaching and learning for all students.
• We believe that all students have the capacity to learn and to make progress.
• We are committed to supporting students with particular needs.
• We know that students will learn best when there is a collaborative approach between professionals, students and parents/carers.
• We recognise that the curriculum may present difficulties and that a degree of flexibility is an essential aspect of providing the most appropriate educational experience for all students.

Aim

We aim to support the learning and personal development of students in accordance with school policy, and local and national priorities.  We are closely involved with parents/carers, students and teaching staff to promote the inclusion of students with diverse intellectual, sensory, physical and behavioural needs.

The department is tasked with fulfilling the 5 roles of Support for Learning:

1. Consultancy
2. Direct Teaching – in the mainstream class or by extraction to the SfL classroom
3. Cooperative Teaching
4. Specialist services – testing, Assessment Arrangements, transition, curriculum development
5. Staff development

Overview of duties

Irrespective of ability, any student may encounter difficulties in learning.  These difficulties may be long or short term and the Support for Learning department works closely with subject departments to ensure that students are supported appropriately.   As far as possible, students are supported in class by Learning Assistants or SfL teaching staff.  Other ways in which learning is supported include:

• Providing information on individual students;
• Suggesting learning and teaching strategies for identified students (transferrable to other students);
• Setting and monitoring Additional Support Plans (ASPs), Individualised Education Plans (IEPs) and Coordinated Support Plans (CSPs) in conjunction with Support for Students and subject teachers;
• Assisting mainstream teachers in developing resources for learning;
• Agreeing the use of the SfL classroom for students following individual courses of study;
• Involvement in review meetings and transition meetings;
• Devising individualised learning programmes;
• Managing procedures relating to SQA Assessment Arrangements.
• Running reading programmes (direct teaching and paired reading)
• Managing the use of keyboards (Alphasmart/Neo/laptops);
• Offering individual tutorial time as appropriate;
• Liaising with partner agencies such as: English as an Additional Language service (EAL), Educational Psychologist, Educational Welfare Officer (EWO), and health services.

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