News

Children with special needs and their families are set to benefit from a new integrated approach to support services and assessment of their needs following an announcement by Cathy Jamieson, minister for education and young people.

The announcement is the Scottish executive’s formal response to a national consultation - 'Assessing our Children's Educational Needs - the Way Forward' – which drew together the views of parents and support groups last year.

Jamieson said: "All children deserve the same educational opportunities and all children deserve access to learning support if they need it. I believe our proposals form the basis for significant long-term improvements across Scotland for children with additional support needs."

Additional support services provided by social work and other agencies will be introduced for children with behavioural difficulties, but will also be available for travellers’ children and children for whom English is a second language such as those from asylum seeker or refugee families. Parents will have extended and strengthened powers of appeal against decisions made about their children’s welfare.

The executive is to carry out a series of consultations throughout Scotland prior to implementation.