Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 14 August 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that parents of children with additional support needs are included in any decision-making processes regarding their child's care and education.
Parental engagement is vital when there are decisions to be made about the care and education of children, particularly those with additional support needs.
The Scottish Government seeks to create opportunities to enable parents and carers to be consistently involved and fully listened to as key partners in the development of additional support for learning (ASL) policy, and more broadly in education policy. Parents and carers are represented in all our key stakeholder groups on ASL.
Parents are involved in the planning process for the delivery of care and educational support provided by local authorities, through Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) and ASL policy implementation.
The Children’s Service, My Rights, My Say is a Scottish Government funded national service which supports children who have attained the age of 12 years and their parents and carers who wish to exercise, or are considering exercising, relevant rights to help them access the advice and support that they need to be fully involved in decisions about their education.
The Scottish Government also funds Let’s Talk ASN Scotland, a national advocacy and legal representation service for young people (over 16 years old) and the parents and carers of children with additional support needs, who may require support in relation to a dispute or potential dispute with an education authority regarding support under the Additional Support for Learning Act 2004.