Additional Support Needs

Under Scottish law, any child who needs more or different support to that which is normally provided in schools or pre-schools to help with learning is said to have additional support needs. There is a wide range of reasons why some children may need this extra help.

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 includes a requirement for education authorities to have in place arrangements for independent mediation to resolve disputes between parents and the authority and/or school regarding a child who has additional support needs.

Independent mediation can help families and authorities to build or rebuild a positive relationship, leading to co-operation in making arrangements for the child or young person.

It can help avoid conflicts that arise out of misunderstandings or lack of shared information by helping parents, teachers, authority officials and others involved in the child’s education to communicate directly with one another.

The aim is that the disputing parties come to a shared agreement on how to resolve their differences themselves.