What is additional support for learning?
A high percentage of all children and young people in Scotland are recognised as having additional support needs. While all children get support with their learning, some require extra or specialist help.
Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, as amended
This Act of the Scottish Parliament provides a framework for local authorities and other agencies to support all children with their learning.
For further information, see the Scottish Government’s Statutory Guidance or contact our Enquire helpline.
What are ‘additional support needs’?
A child or young person has additional support needs if, for any reason, they need extra or different help than others their age to benefit fully from their education.
For example, if:
- their learning environment is not suitable for them
- they are disabled or have a health condition
- their family circumstances are affecting them in school, or
- they are experiencing social or emotional problems.
A child or young person may need additional support at any time from early learning through to leaving high school. They may need support for only a short time, or for the whole time they are in education. Children can have overlapping needs, and these needs may change over time.
A child or young person does not need a diagnosed condition to have additional support needs.
All children and young person who are ‘looked after’ by a local authority are assumed to have additional support needs unless they are assessed as not needing extra help to learn. This legal term describes where the local authority has taken on some or all legal responsibility for their care and wellbeing.
What is ‘additional support for learning’?
Additional support for learning (ASL) is the extra or different help provided to learners who have additional support needs. Additional support for learning Additional support for learning (ASL) is the extra or different help provided to learners who have additional support needs. Additional support for learning can take a variety of forms. It can include things like:
- changes to the curriculum or the way a learner is taught
- support from a learning assistant
- use of technology or changes to learning materials
- input from specialist teachers or health professionals.
The ASL Act gives learners who need extra help at school or nursery the right to get the support they need. The law does not say how much or what type of support each learner should get. Instead, their support must be ‘adequate and efficient’ and based on their individual needs.
All children are individuals with their each individual needs. Even those with the same or similar support needs will require a personalised and inclusive approach when planning additional support for learning.
What is the role of the local authority?
There is an obligation on local authorities, and those working on their behalf, like school or nursery staff to:
- identify which children and young people have additional support needs
- provide these learners with ‘adequate and efficient’ additional support to help them fully benefit from their education
- make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to support disabled learners and avoid disadvantage
- keep supports under review to make sure they are meeting learners’ needs
- identify which children and young people need a co-ordinated support plan (CSP) and prepare CSPs for them
- take account of learners’ additional support needs in any decisions made about their education
- listen and take account of children’s views, as well as the views of their parents and carers
- have arrangements in place to help resolve disagreements about additional support for learning, and
- publish and keep up to date information about how they do all the above.
Supporting children and young people is always a collaboration between the child, their family, teaching and learning professionals and other specialist support staff. Working together to plan and coordinate additional support and ensure that every child and young person can reach their full potential, will secure the best outcomes.
Legal references
The advice and information that Enquire provides is based on the ASL Act and supporting Code of Practice as well as related laws, guidance and policies. These Scottish Government publications set out the key legal rights and responsibilities of parents and carers, and the education authority with respect to additional support for learning.
Our advice is continuously updated in response to what we’re hearing within education, and from people contacting our Helpline. We update our websites in accordance with legislative and policy developments, posting the latest in news posts and communicating through our newsletter.
You can view a full list of relevant Scottish education publications on our page Policy, Legislation and Guidance
Language choices
We aim to provide easily understood and positive language around children’s rights in education, specific to additional support for learning.
We acknowledge that language is ever evolving and the importance of ensuring the words and phrases we use are inclusive and representative of the language of additional support needs.
We recognise that children and young people are individuals whose identities are made up of their entire life experiences. Everyone has the freedom to choose how they describe their own identity. We value and promote equality, inclusion and wellbeing in education settings whatever a child’s individual support needs.
The language on our website reflects our approach to respecting people as individuals with choice and rights.
You can view a list of terms we use when speaking about additional support for learning on our page Understanding the Jargon
Still have questions about additional support for learning?
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