Co-ordinated support plans (CSPs)
If your child has multiple or complex additional support needs and needs a lot of support from education and at least one other agency (like social work or health), they may be eligible for a co-ordinated support plan (CSP).
This page explains what CSPs are, which children should have a CSP, and how to ask for one.
What is a CSP?
A CSP is a plan used for some pupils who need significant additional support with their learning. It is used to help professionals from different agencies work together. A CSP should set out broad and long-term goals for a pupil’s education. It should be reviewed at least every 12 months.
CSPs are legal documents. This means that local authorities must prepare a CSP for pupils in their area who meet the criteria. They must also provide the support that is written in a CSP.
Can my child have a CSP?
To be eligible for a CSP, your child must meet all the following criteria:
- a local authority must be responsible for their education
- they need support due to ‘complex or multiple factors’
- they have needs that will, or are likely to, last for more than a year
- they need ‘significant additional support’ to reach their educational goals from education and from another department of the local authority (such as social work) or another agency or agencies (such as the NHS).
If your child does not meet these criteria, they are not entitled to a CSP. However, the local authority still has a duty to plan and provide them with the support they need. You can find out about other types of plans on our ‘How support is planned’ page.
Local authorities are responsible for deciding which pupils meet the criteria for a CSP, and then for preparing the plans and keeping them under review. Every local authority should have arrangements in place to help them identify which pupils may need a CSP. Your local authority must let you know if they decide to assess your child to find out if they need a CSP. If your child is currently considered a ‘looked after child’, the local authority must assess whether they need a CSP.
Other people, such as teachers, social workers, or health professionals, can also tell local authorities about pupils that they think need a CSP.
Does a CSP change a learners’ rights to support?
A CSP is the only legal education support plan used in Scotland. This means the support written into a CSP must be provided. The plan must also be reviewed at least annually. A CSP gives children and young people, and their families, more security. They have a right to take concerns relating to the content or delivery of support in a CSP to an Independent Tribunal .
However, a co-ordinated support plan does not change a child or young person’s right to additional support. Learners who need extra help at school or nursery have the right to get the support they need, with or without a CSP.
What are ‘complex or multiple factors’?
A complex factor is one that is likely to have a significant negative effect on a pupil’s education. It is the impact on the pupil’s learning that is important, rather than the reason they need support.
What is ‘significant additional support’?
When deciding whether a pupil needs ‘significant’ additional support from education and at least one other agency, the local authority will consider the frequency, nature, intensity, and duration of the support they need.
Significant additional support can include support provided on an individual basis, in a group setting with others, or through staff working under the direction and guidance of those from another agency.
When the law talks about ‘significant additional support’ it means significance from the point of view of the agency providing it, rather than from the point of view of the pupil or their parent or carer. For example, on advice from a health professional, a teacher may make a minor change to their classroom set-up to help a deaf pupil communicate effectively. This might have a significant effect on the pupil, but it would not be considered ‘significant additional support’ by the health professional or the teacher.
If a pupil needs small amounts of support from several different professionals from one agency, such as a health board, this could also amount to ‘significant’ support.
How can I request a CSP for my child?
You have the right to make a formal request for your child to be assessed for a CSP by contacting your local authority directly.
Requests should be put in writing, or another permanent format. You can find out who at your local authority to send a request to on our website here: Local authorities ASL contacts.
If your child is 12 or older and they can understand how to, they can make the request themselves. If they’re aged 12-15, the My Rights, My Say service can support them with this process. If they are not able to do this, you can still make the request on their behalf.
What information should my CSP request include?
You should include:
- your name and address, your relationship to your child, and a contact telephone number
- your child’s name, address, date of birth, and the name of their nursery or school
- a note of your preferred form of communication (such as phone, email or letter)
- a statement that you are formally asking for the local authority to assess whether your child needs a CSP
- the reasons for your request and why you think your child needs a CSP.
This last point is essential. We suggest including:
- a brief description of your child’s difficulties (including any diagnoses, if relevant) and how these affect their education – for example if they have difficulty concentrating or communicating
- a summary of the educational support your child already gets, or needs
- a summary of the support your child already gets, or needs from other agencies such as social workers or health professionals
- the names of any professionals who work with your child.
Prompt questions to consider when creating a CSP request
Before submitting a request, it can be helpful to reflect on your child’s current support and why you think that a co-ordinated support plan (CSP) could make a difference.
The prompts below are intended to guide your thinking. You do not need to answer every question, but they may help you explain why you feel a CSP is appropriate for your child.
- What challenges does your child experience at school or nursery, and how do these affect their learning, participation, or wellbeing?
- Are your child’s needs likely to be long-term or ongoing?
- Is support provided by more than one service or professional? If so, who is involved?
- Is it clear who is responsible for co-ordinating your child’s support?
- Are there any gaps in support — where your child’s needs are not fully being met?
- Have there been difficulties in accessing consistent support, or in support being delivered as planned?
- Would clearer co-ordination or a formal plan improve communication between professionals?
- How does the current support work in practice, and where are the difficulties?
- Does your child’s support feel stable, or does it change frequently due to staffing or service availability?
- What difference do you feel a CSP would make for your child and your family?
When making a request, it can help to keep your information clear and focused, using examples to show how your child’s needs impact their education.
Your experiences and concerns are important. Sharing specific examples can help professionals better understand your child’s situation and consider whether a CSP is appropriate.
How will my child and I be involved in the assessment?
When deciding whether your child needs a CSP, the local authority must seek and take account of:
- relevant advice and information form professionals that work with your child
- relevant information provided to them by, or on behalf of, your child (this includes information you provide about your child)
- your and your child’s views.
They should tell you:
- who they are planning to seek advice and information from
- what assessments of your child’s needs they feel are needed (if any)
- your rights to be involved in the process
- a timescale for the process.
How long does it take?
The local authority has eight weeks to let you know if they will accept your request to assess your child for a CSP. If you make your request during the summer holidays, the maximum time for a decision extends to 16 weeks.
If your local authority agrees to assess your child for a CSP, they must write to you to let you know. They then have another 16 weeks to assess whether your child needs a CSP and produce the plan.
At this time, you have the right to ask the local authority for a particular type of assessment of your child’s needs, if you feel it is needed. This could be psychological, medical, or educational.
What if the local authority refuses to give my child a CSP?
The local authority can refuse to assess your child for a CSP. They might also decide, after assessing your child, that they do not need a CSP. If they do either of these things, they must write to you to explain why. They must also tell you about your right to appeal their decision.
If you have not had a decision after eight weeks, this is called a ‘deemed refusal’. This also gives you the right to appeal the decision.
You have two months to make a reference to the Tribunal from the date of the decision
Let’s Talk ASN is a free advocacy and legal support service that can help you to make a reference to the tribunal. You can call them on 0141 445 1955 or email letstalkasn@edlaw.org.uk
Find out much more about the tribunal and how to make a reference on our Additional Support Needs Tribunal page.
Where can I find out more?
Scottish Government Guidance
Our website links to the Supporting Children’s Learning Code of Practice that explains the duties on education authorities and other agencies to support children’s and young people’s learning in accordance with the ASL Act.
Chapter 5 of the Scottish Government’s guidance on additional support for learning is all about CSPs. The guidance also has a template CSP, and some notes about decisions of whether a pupil needs ‘significant’ additional support.
More like this
How support is planned
A useful summary of how schools and local authorities plan children’s learning and support.
Delivering a co-ordinated support plan (CSP)
When your child has a CSP, it should help all professionals involved understand what support needs to be in place to enable your child to work towards achieving their educational goals. This includes education aimed at the development of their personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to help them reach their fullest potential.
Preparing a Co-ordinated support plan (CSP)
If the local authority decides that your child needs a CSP, an officer in the education department of your local authority will have lead responsibility for preparing the plan. Sometimes
Still have questions about additional support for learning?
Our Helpline staff can help.
About the Enquire Helpline