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

NDCS Scotland campaigns to ensure that this landmark act is working effectively for deaf children and their families in Scotland.

NDCS Scotland wants to ensure that every deaf child in Scotland is accessing the support that is their legal right under the terms of this legislation.  However, you have been telling us that this is not always the case.  HMIEt reported a great deal of local variation in access to statutory support plans, and a general lack of information available for parents about their rights under this Act.  And research NDCS commissioned from the University of Edinburgh found that 26% of deaf children surveyed had no form of educational support plan at school.

Read about how the Act is working for deaf children in Scotland >

NDCS Scotland has been at the forefront of a successful campaign to review the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.  

As a result, we have achieved some really significant changes to the this law in Scotland on your behalf!  And the Scottish Government has agreed to set up a working group to look at how the Act could work better to support deaf children in Scottish schools.

As one parent said:  "Great achievement.
This is exactly the reason we need NDCS for this kind of lobbying."

Read all about it> NDCS Scotland Background Briefing on ASL Amendment Bill (83 kb)

We will continue to lobby through the forthcoming review of the Code of Practice which accompanies the ASL Act, and membership of the working group that the Scottish Government has agreed to set up, to promote the rights of deaf children and their parents to access the information and support they need. 

• May 2009: Take a look at the Additional Support for Learning Amendment Bill - as passed (95 kb)
• May 2009:  MSPs vote to pass the Amendment Bill during the final Parliamentary debate, with some very significant changes to the law which will make a difference to the support provided to deaf children and their parents.  Read what MSPs said during this crucial debate >
• May 2009:  NDCS Scotland briefs MSPs ahead of the final stage 3 debate.  NDCS Scotland - ASL Bill - Stage 3 Briefing to MSPs - 20th May 09 (88 kb)                         We also join forces with other organisations to brief MSPs on general sections of the Bill. ASLAmendment Bill - Govan Law Centre Coaltion - Stage 3 briefing - 20th May 09 (452 kb)
• May 2009:  A report published by the University of Edinburgh into the impact of the Additional Support for Learning Act on deaf children finds that a quarter of deaf pupils in Scotland have no form of support plan in place.  Read more > 

NDCS Scotland needs you!

• Have you found it difficult to get a CSP for your child? Are you a parent of a deaf child who does not have a CSP or an IEP? Are you frustrated at the lack of information available to parents of children with additional support for learning needs? 

• Or, do you think that the system is working well for your child? 

Tell us – we need to know the scale of the problem.  We have produced a form for you fill in and return to us - a huge thank you to all the parents who have so far taken the time to do this! 

Case studies like these help NDCS to demonstrate to the government the case for action.   Now, more than ever, we have a real opportunity to influence changes to the Additional Support for Learning Act that could have a positive impact on deaf children in Scotland's schools.  Get behind NDCS Scotland and get involved!

Download our briefings to MSPs on the Additional Support for Learning Act:

NDCS Scotland Written Evidence to Education Committee - ASL Act - Nov 08 (141 kb)

ASL Amendment Bill Stage 1 Debate - NDCS Scotland Briefing Note - 4th March 09 (66 kb)

NDCS Scotland - ASL Bill - Stage 3 Briefing to MSPs - 20th May 09 (88 kb)

If you have any questions about this campaign in your area or if you would like to tell us about your experiences, please get in touch.

Email: campaigns.scotland@ndcs.org.uk

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