The main policies which we cover are:
• the management and deployment of Specialist Support Services for example, Psychological Service, Network Support Teachers and Learning Assistants;
• specialist placements within the local authority area and elsewhere;
• Accessibility Strategy targets;
• school transport;
• consultation and communication with parents, including parental complaints;
• attendance and exclusion procedures;
• pupil support strategies.
All of the above are aimed at building the capacity of all West Dunbartonshire education establishments to include and support children with a wide range of abilities and needs and to ensure that they achieve to their full potential.
Over the next year our priorities are as follows:
• preparing for the implementation of the Additional Support for Learning Act which comes into force in November 2005. This will involve collaborative working with a range of partner agencies, education staff, parents and pupils. Vicky McGraw leads developments in this area;
• reviewing and further improving the allocation and input of the specialist teachers and Learning Assistants, via the Staged Intervention process. As Manager of the Network Support Team, Debbie Queen leads in this area;
• developing intensive pupil support strategies in all school clusters to support positive discipline policies in schools and create a flexible response to pupils who need a more individualised learning programme or environment. Mary Berrill supports schools in this area of development;
• through joint working with Health and other agencies, develop further specialist support programmes for children with a range of needs as a result of disability, illness or other factors. Margaret Connolly, who manages the Psychological Service, leads in this area.
The aim of this section of the website is to provide information and links to information relevant to Additional Support Needs both locally and nationally which will be of interest to professionals and parents. We will be working to improve the range and quality of information available on the website and in other formats over the course of the next 6 to 8 months. All members of the team would be happy to hear from both professionals and parents on the usefulness of the information, suggestions for additions to the website and other comments or queries in relation to services for children with Additional Support Needs and their families.
Read more about (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2.
