December 2019
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference examines key issues for additional support for learning (ASL) in Scotland.
It follows the announcement by the Scottish Government of an independent review into additional learning needs which will look at the quality of provision, how it is currently being implemented in schools and how resources are being used, with the findings expected to be finally published in the first quarter of 2020.
With the review ongoing as the seminar takes place, delegates will consider its major areas of focus as well as:
- How to better identify additional support needs (ASN), particularly for young people who have suffered adverse childhood experiences;
- Support for the teaching workforce.
Speakers:
There will be keynote contributions from:
- Mary Berrill, Head of Inclusion, Education Scotland;
- May Dunsmuir, President, Health and Education Chamber, First-tier Tribunal for Scotland;
- Professor Sheila Riddell, Director, Centre for Research in Education Inclusion and Diversity, Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh: and
- Jan Savage, Director of External Affairs & Strategic Development, ENABLE Scotland.
Further speakers include:
Pauline Beirne, The Scottish Government; Andrea Bradley, EIS; Bernadette Casey, Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland; Kenny Graham, Scottish Children’s Services Coalition; Iain Nisbet, Cairn Legal; Sally Paterson, The Royal Blind School; Rebecca Scarlett, Lead Scotland; Elizabeth Stevenson, Signpost; and Tina Yu, Sense Scotland.
The agenda:
- Key issues for additional support for learning (ASL) in Scotland;
- Identifying ASL needs, effective assessment and access to health and education services across communities in Scotland;
- Challenges for the ASN system and developing the local planning, delivery and coordination of support;
- Supporting the sector and promoting effective ASL - improving provision, best practice and achieving better outcomes;
- Meeting workforce needs: training, continued development and supporting teachers and carers;
- Improving delivery of ASL in school and beyond - resources, inclusive practice and the future for the presumption of mainstreaming; and
- Next steps for improving provision - closing the educational attainment gap and examples of good practice.
Context:
- The recent announcement of £15m in funding for more services and staff for ASL in the Scottish Government’s 2019-2020 Programme for Government;
- Concerns expressed by the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee in their renewed examination of the presumption of mainstreaming and ASL, including:
- Resources and systems for delivery of ASL;
- Seclusion and restraint; and
- Numbers of specialist staff.
- The Scottish Government’s guidance to local authorities which aims to ensure children with additional needs are fully supported in mainstream education, by providing advice on the best learning environment for young people, including defining inclusion for the first time and how it should be delivered;
- A drop in the number of Co-ordinated Support Plans (CSPs); and
- Calls for increased resources to support young people with ASN in mainstream education amidst funding concerns.
