Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004

Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004
Dates
Scottish Parliament
Long title	An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision for additional support in connection with the school education of children and young persons having additional support needs; and for connected purposes.
Citation	2004 asp 4
Introduced by	Peter Peacock Scottish Executive, 28 October 2003^[1]
Territorial extent	Scotland
Royal Assent	7 May 2004
Commencement	Various dates from 7 May 2004^[2]^[3]^[4]
Repealed	—
Other legislation
Amended by	—
Repealed by	—
Relates to	—
Status: Current legislation
History of passage through Parliament
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from the UK Statute Law Database

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament that received Royal Assent in 2004. It seeks to redefine the law in Scotland relating to the provision of special education to children with additional needs by establishing a framework for the policies of inclusion and generally practicing the "presumption of mainstreaming" in Scottish education. The Act is an attempt to broaden the narrow definition of Special Educational Needs (SEN) which has typically been used to define children with special needs.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Under the SEN model, certain children were classified as having special needs, and a formal "Record of Needs" (RoN) was opened and maintained. The opening of an RoN placed a legal obligation on the local authority to meet the needs of the child or young person as defined in the record. Additional support, staffing, resources and places at special schools were largely dependent on the needs and targets set out in the student's RoN.^[5]

Principles

The new Act defines a system of Additional Support Needs (ASN). The Act states that, at some point in their education, all children may require some form of additional support. The Act says: "A child may require additional support for a variety of reasons. These may include those who are being bullied, are particularly gifted, have experienced a bereavement, or are not attending school regularly, as well as those who have behavioural or learning difficulties, mental health problems, or specific disabilities such as deafness or blindness."

Implementation

The Act places a duty on education authorities to establish procedures for identifying and meeting the additional support needs of children and young people. The identified needs must be kept under review and it will be the responsibility of all agencies to help education authorities meet their duties. The act defines such agencies as "including the local authority’s social work services, any health board, any other local authority or other agency specified by Scottish Ministers, such as Careers Scotland or further education colleges."

The new structure is intended to make accessing support easier for parents and carers. Where parents believe that their child has additional support needs they are able to request assessments which they believe are necessary; education authorities also have this ability. In situations where there is disagreement, education authorities will be under a duty to provide mediation services and they will be required to have arrangements in place for resolving disputes.

The Act is intended to provide support for children with long or short term barriers to learning, including children with severe and complex needs. Where more than one support service is involved in the provision of support for a child, a Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP) will be drawn up by the relevant agencies, (e.g., school and grief counsellor).^[6]

Sources

References

↑ "Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 - Passage of the Bill: Summary" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. 2004. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
↑ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2005/20050154.htm
↑ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2005/20050263.htm
↑ http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2005/20050564.htm]
↑ Achievement of Deaf Pupils on Scotland: Record of Needs
↑ Text of the Act

External links

"Additional Support Needs: a guide to the law by Govan Law Centre". a brief guide to the 2004 Act for schools, parents and young people. Includes additional information, legislation, cases, links and downloads.
Scottish Executive: Transitional arrangements consultation paper on the Act
Contact a Family Factsheet: Additional Support for Learning Act

United Kingdom legislation

Pre-Parliamentary legislation	List of English statutes Charter of Liberties Magna Carta

Acts of Parliament by states preceding the Kingdom of Great Britain	Acts of the Parliament of England to 1483 1485–1601 1603–1641 Interregnum (1642–1660) 1660–1699 1700–1706 Acts of the Parliament of Scotland Acts of the Parliament of Ireland to 1700 1701–1800

Acts of Parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain	1707–1719 1720–1739 1740–1759 1760–1779 1780–1800

Acts of Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	1801–1819 1820–1839 1840–1859 1860–1879 1880–1899 1900–1919 1920–1939 1940–1959 1960–1979 1980–1999 2000 to date Halsbury's Statutes UK Statute Law Database Short titles

Church of England measures	List Church of England Assembly (Powers) Act 1919

Legislation of devolved institutions	Acts of the Scottish Parliament Acts and Measures of the National Assembly for Wales Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly Acts of the Parliament of Northern Ireland Orders in Council for Northern Ireland

Orders-in-Council	Order in Council

Secondary legislation	United Kingdom Statutory Instruments Scottish Statutory Instruments Act of Sederunt, Act of Adjournal

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