FOI Request - Information on Additional Support for Learning
Request 101003321945
SUPPORT FOR PARENTS AND CARERS OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR LEARNING
In November 2022, the Scottish Government published an update to its Additional Support for Learning Action Plan Review and that the Parent and Carer Engagement, Participation & Rights section of the updated action plan has two actions relating, in part or in whole, to local authorities (actions PC4 and PC5), which are detailed below. I would be pleased if you could respond in writing to our questions relating to actions PC4 and PC5 by answering the questions in the table below as fully as you can.
1. Action PC 4 states that: ‘Local authorities will review the information on additional support for learning and GIRFEC that is provided to parents and carers of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and school-age children and young people, both online and through resources such as the school handbook, to ensure that it is clear, informative, accessible and provides signposting to appropriate support services’.
a) What channels does your local authority currently use to share information on additional support for learning with parents and carers? Please include details of all social media platforms your local authority uses for this specific purpose and any other methods, such as in-person events or printed school handbooks.
b) How often and when last did you last review the information on a) additional support for learning and b) GIRFEC that you provide to parents and carers of children and young people with additional support needs?
c) During your last review of information for parents and carers (for example, school placement requests or the school handbook), how did you involve parents and carers of children and young people with additional support needs within the review process? If this differs from school to school, does the local authority have any policies to ensure that parents and carers of children and young people with additional support needs are specifically consulted?
d) During your last review of ASL information, did you work with local third-sector organisations that support children and young people with additional support needs and/ or their families to ensure the information you provide is accurate and up to date? If you did, please provide details.
2. Action PC 5 states that: ‘COSLA and ADES will encourage local authorities to establish parent groups to support enhanced collaboration and communication on additional support for learning’.
e) Does your local authority support any parent groups that are specifically for parents and carers of children and young people with additional support needs? If yes, please provide specific details.
f) If you answered no to question 5, does your local authority have any plans to establish any parent groups that are specifically for parents and carers of children and young people with additional support needs? If yes, please provide specific details.
g) Since January 2022, has COSLA encouraged your local to a) establish a new parent group or b) work with existing parent groups to support enhanced collaboration and communication on additional support for learning? If, please provide specific details.
h) Since January 2022, has ADES encouraged your local to a) establish a new parent group or b) work with existing parent groups to support enhanced collaboration and communication on additional support for learning? If, please provide specific details.
i) What considerations, if any, have you given to the ways in which parents and carers of children and young people with additional support needs can help ensure that measurements of improvement that relate to them and their children are effective?
Response 14-06-2023
a) A passage explaining ASN is in school handbooks (adapted by individual settings, particularly those with enhanced provisions) and leaflet is available to print for schools. Links on the Moray Council website to each of the services as well as a general overview of ASN.
b) Currently there is no planned timings for reviewing information sent to parents around ASN and GIRFEC but will be looked at as part of the ASN review.
c) There has been no central demand for parent/carer input into these so it would be on a school to school basis. Currently no policies in place to ensure that parents/carers of children and young people with additional support needs are specifically consulted.
d) N/A
e) Currently we do not support parents groups
f) Yes, it was part of the ASN Strategy and will become part of the ASN review. Initial communications have started with potential partners to support facilitating this.
g) Not aware at this stage.
h) Not aware at this stage.
i) Milestones BGE and National and achievement awards, regular reporting some school have open afternoon, regular child plan meetings, shared construction of planning and reviewing documents Coordinated support plans