Education Scotland Associate (Additional Support Needs)

Published 22/04/2024.  Last updated 17/01/2025

We are seeking applications for Education Scotland Associates (ESA) with a specialism in Additional Support Needs (ASN). The posts are on a part-time, pro rata basis and will be based throughout Scotland. Base location can be flexible. Working as an Education Scotland Associate is a new, exciting and varied role that gives a national perspective in education. You will be joining a growing network of ESAs who are leading and supporting work as part of the reformed Education Scotland.

The Education Scotland Associate role recognises our commitment to increasing opportunities for the profession to be engaged in the work of the organisation. ESAs will work to support improvement with an ASN specific focus in the areas of literacy, data and transitions. They make an important contribution to our professional learning programmes, drawing on their experience as educators, their specialist skills, and their educational and system knowledge.

ESAs will work with us on an ‘as required’ basis for up to 15 days whilst keeping existing roles within a school or setting. To avoid any conflicts of interest, ESAs should not currently be working as Associate Inspectors.

ESAs will have the opportunity to observe practice and engage with stakeholders throughout Scotland. As such, they may be required to travel, which may include staying overnight away from home.

Available positions

ASN Literacy Difficulties (3 posts)

The Additional Support Needs (ASN) Education Scotland Associates will work closely with the SEO for Inclusion and ASN. They will be involved in engaging with local authorities to aid capacity building through professional learning, scoping and sharing effective approaches which support children and young people who experience literacy difficulties.

ASN and Data (1 post)

The Additional Support Needs (ASN) and Data Education Scotland Associate will work closely with the Senior Education Officer for Inclusion and ASN, the ADES ASN Network and local authority leads. They will be involved in exploring and supporting the effective use of ASN data at local authority and establishment levels as part of a collaborative approach to improve educational experiences and outcomes for all children and young people.

ASN Transitions (Complex Needs) (1 post)

 The Additional Support Needs (ASN) Education Scotland Associate will work closely with the Education Officer for Inclusion and ASN and Scottish Government colleagues from the National Transition Strategy Working Group. They will be involved in supporting and facilitating a subgroup of practitioners and ASN leads from the National Complex Needs Network (NCNN) to deliver professional learning using worked examples, effective approaches and supporting documents which support practitioners to effectively plan transitions at various stages in the educational journey of children and young people across the range of identified ASN.

Location

Various locations across Scotland.

Closing date and interviews

The closing date for this role is Sunday 2 February 2025 at 11:59pm.

Apply for this role

To apply please send the following documents to the Education Scotland associate mailbox by Sunday 2 February 2025 at 11:59pm:

All applicants will be subject to a selection process, and successful candidates will be provided with the appropriate training.

Endorsement

All applications must be endorsed by their Director, Head Teacher or Quality Improvement Officer, as appropriate. Your Local Authority or employer must be in agreement to your release to be involved in this work. This information is included in the ESA application form.

Engagement days

The maximum number of days per year will be 15.

It is important to stress that this is a notional figure. Any engagement is agreed on an individual basis with the relevant local authority. This could vary depending on the experience of the individual.

Engagement may be over 2 to 3 weeks or spread over the year depending on the nature of the work.

Associate Inspectors

This is a different role from the established HMIE Associate Inspector role which plays a vital part in Education Scotland’s Inspection Programme. No individual can be an Associate Inspector and an ESA at the same time.

Reimbursement

A reimbursement of £196 per day will be made to the local authority once a project has been completed or the maximum number of days has been reached.

Who can apply

During this round of recruitment, we are seeking applications from educators with experience in the ASN sector.  There are specific requirements for each post - please see the individual role specifications below for specific details.

ESAs (ASN) have:

  • Excellent inter-personal skills
  • The ability to support and work collaboratively with colleagues from local authorities and their establishments
  • Sound judgment based on evidence
  • An ability to work independently and to clear deadlines
  • Good organisational and planning skills
  • Strong IT skills and confidence in using software to produce text
  • Experience of building and maintaining productive and high quality relationships with stakeholders and influencing strategic developments
  • A clear understanding of the Scottish inclusive education context.

 

Applicants must have:

  • The Dyslexia Scotland and Education Scotland programme which results in the award of GTCS Professional Recognition in Dyslexia and Inclusive practice or GTCS accredited teacher with specialist knowledge and experience of identifying, supporting, planning and moderation of literacy difficulties and dyslexia.
  • Enthusiasm to improve literacy outcomes and experiences for children, young people who experience literacy difficulties.

Required experience

The successful applicant must have relevant experience and understanding to support educators across the system to develop their skills and professional development on literacy difficulties. They require to have current specialist knowledge, experience and practice of:

  • Working effectively with children and young people who experience literacy difficulties.
  • Working effectively with colleagues and families
  • Identifying, supporting, planning and moderation of literacy difficulties
  • An understanding of developing appropriate strategic and operational approaches to support effective capacity building. 

Applicants must have:

  •  A background in ASN, with experience working with children and young people.
  • A clear understanding of the Scottish inclusive education context.
  • A clear understanding of ASN data, SEEMiS and the contextual barriers preventing a consistency of approach within establishments and local authority. 

Required experience 

The successful applicants are required to have:

  • Relevant strategic experience with an understanding of how to support educators across the system.
  •  Strategic and operational practice in the effective use of improvement and ASN data.
  •  Experience in the use of data to support early intervention, improved planning and positive outcomes for children and young people.  
  •  Experience of working effectively with children and young people who require additional support.
  •  Experience of working effectively with colleagues and families. 

 

Applicants must have:

  • A background in ASN, with experience working with children and young people with complex needs.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • the ability to support and work collaboratively with colleagues from local authorities and their establishments
  • A clear understanding of the Scottish inclusive education context.
  • Understanding of contextual barriers and to supporting transitions
  • A solution focussed approach

Required experience 

The successful applicant must have relevant experience and understanding to support educators across the system to develop their skills and professional development around multiagency transition planning.

They require to have current specialist knowledge, experience and practice of:

  • Working knowledge and understanding of the principles of good transition. 
  • Working effectively with children and young people with ASN, including those with complex /complexity of need.
  • Working effectively with colleagues and families
  • An understanding of developing appropriate strategic and operational approaches to support effective capacity building at all levels of transition planning within the educational and wider community.

The main responsibility of an Education Scotland Associate is to support improvement of national priorities.

ESAs work alongside Education Scotland staff to enhance specialist capacity and support improvement and policy at national and local level.

As part of this work ESAs:

  • engage in professional discussions with practitioners, stakeholders, and senior managers
  • Identify and promote highly effective practice
  • gather and analyse information, including statistical data, from a wide range of sources
  • maintain a high level of awareness of current and developing policy and practice in specific aspects of education provision
  • engage in appropriate professional learning and development to build and maintain professional knowledge and expertise
  • take account of equality and diversity in all aspects of work
  • model good practice, challenge discrimination and promote equality to encourage positive outcomes across all education aspects and services

This is an opportunity to strengthen relationships and collaborate with local government colleagues. You will provide support where it is most needed.

Thank you for your interest in becoming an Education Scotland Associate at this pivotal time in Scottish education.

Working with stakeholders, you will play a vital role in supporting improvement in Scottish education for the benefit of learners.

Scottish Government's ambition is to be a world leading, diverse employer where people can be themselves at work.

We want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any adjustments to our recruitment process, please let us know. 

To contact us about adjustments or for further information regarding this post please email the Education Scotland Associates Mailbox.

As part of any recruitment process, Scottish Government and associated public bodies collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants and applicants for public appointments.

Personal information you provide in the recruitment process will be made available to Scottish Government and our additional data processors.
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Education Scotland Associate (Additional Support Needs)

Published 22/04/2024.  Last updated 17/01/2025

We are seeking applications for Education Scotland Associates (ESA) with a specialism in Additional Support Needs (ASN). The posts are on a part-time, pro rata basis and will be based throughout Scotland. Base location can be flexible. Working as an Education Scotland Associate is a new, exciting and varied role that gives a national perspective in education. You will be joining a growing network of ESAs who are leading and supporting work as part of the reformed Education Scotland.

The Education Scotland Associate role recognises our commitment to increasing opportunities for the profession to be engaged in the work of the organisation. ESAs will work to support improvement with an ASN specific focus in the areas of literacy, data and transitions. They make an important contribution to our professional learning programmes, drawing on their experience as educators, their specialist skills, and their educational and system knowledge.

ESAs will work with us on an ‘as required’ basis for up to 15 days whilst keeping existing roles within a school or setting. To avoid any conflicts of interest, ESAs should not currently be working as Associate Inspectors.

ESAs will have the opportunity to observe practice and engage with stakeholders throughout Scotland. As such, they may be required to travel, which may include staying overnight away from home.

Available positions

ASN Literacy Difficulties (3 posts)

The Additional Support Needs (ASN) Education Scotland Associates will work closely with the SEO for Inclusion and ASN. They will be involved in engaging with local authorities to aid capacity building through professional learning, scoping and sharing effective approaches which support children and young people who experience literacy difficulties.

ASN and Data (1 post)

The Additional Support Needs (ASN) and Data Education Scotland Associate will work closely with the Senior Education Officer for Inclusion and ASN, the ADES ASN Network and local authority leads. They will be involved in exploring and supporting the effective use of ASN data at local authority and establishment levels as part of a collaborative approach to improve educational experiences and outcomes for all children and young people.

ASN Transitions (Complex Needs) (1 post)

 The Additional Support Needs (ASN) Education Scotland Associate will work closely with the Education Officer for Inclusion and ASN and Scottish Government colleagues from the National Transition Strategy Working Group. They will be involved in supporting and facilitating a subgroup of practitioners and ASN leads from the National Complex Needs Network (NCNN) to deliver professional learning using worked examples, effective approaches and supporting documents which support practitioners to effectively plan transitions at various stages in the educational journey of children and young people across the range of identified ASN.

Location

Various locations across Scotland.

Closing date and interviews

The closing date for this role is Sunday 2 February 2025 at 11:59pm.

Apply for this role

To apply please send the following documents to the Education Scotland associate mailbox by Sunday 2 February 2025 at 11:59pm:

All applicants will be subject to a selection process, and successful candidates will be provided with the appropriate training.

Endorsement

All applications must be endorsed by their Director, Head Teacher or Quality Improvement Officer, as appropriate. Your Local Authority or employer must be in agreement to your release to be involved in this work. This information is included in the ESA application form.

Engagement days

The maximum number of days per year will be 15.

It is important to stress that this is a notional figure. Any engagement is agreed on an individual basis with the relevant local authority. This could vary depending on the experience of the individual.

Engagement may be over 2 to 3 weeks or spread over the year depending on the nature of the work.

Associate Inspectors

This is a different role from the established HMIE Associate Inspector role which plays a vital part in Education Scotland’s Inspection Programme. No individual can be an Associate Inspector and an ESA at the same time.

Reimbursement

A reimbursement of £196 per day will be made to the local authority once a project has been completed or the maximum number of days has been reached.

Who can apply

During this round of recruitment, we are seeking applications from educators with experience in the ASN sector.  There are specific requirements for each post - please see the individual role specifications below for specific details.

ESAs (ASN) have:

  • Excellent inter-personal skills
  • The ability to support and work collaboratively with colleagues from local authorities and their establishments
  • Sound judgment based on evidence
  • An ability to work independently and to clear deadlines
  • Good organisational and planning skills
  • Strong IT skills and confidence in using software to produce text
  • Experience of building and maintaining productive and high quality relationships with stakeholders and influencing strategic developments
  • A clear understanding of the Scottish inclusive education context.

 

Applicants must have:

  • The Dyslexia Scotland and Education Scotland programme which results in the award of GTCS Professional Recognition in Dyslexia and Inclusive practice or GTCS accredited teacher with specialist knowledge and experience of identifying, supporting, planning and moderation of literacy difficulties and dyslexia.
  • Enthusiasm to improve literacy outcomes and experiences for children, young people who experience literacy difficulties.

Required experience

The successful applicant must have relevant experience and understanding to support educators across the system to develop their skills and professional development on literacy difficulties. They require to have current specialist knowledge, experience and practice of:

  • Working effectively with children and young people who experience literacy difficulties.
  • Working effectively with colleagues and families
  • Identifying, supporting, planning and moderation of literacy difficulties
  • An understanding of developing appropriate strategic and operational approaches to support effective capacity building. 

Applicants must have:

  •  A background in ASN, with experience working with children and young people.
  • A clear understanding of the Scottish inclusive education context.
  • A clear understanding of ASN data, SEEMiS and the contextual barriers preventing a consistency of approach within establishments and local authority. 

Required experience 

The successful applicants are required to have:

  • Relevant strategic experience with an understanding of how to support educators across the system.
  •  Strategic and operational practice in the effective use of improvement and ASN data.
  •  Experience in the use of data to support early intervention, improved planning and positive outcomes for children and young people.  
  •  Experience of working effectively with children and young people who require additional support.
  •  Experience of working effectively with colleagues and families. 

 

Applicants must have:

  • A background in ASN, with experience working with children and young people with complex needs.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • the ability to support and work collaboratively with colleagues from local authorities and their establishments
  • A clear understanding of the Scottish inclusive education context.
  • Understanding of contextual barriers and to supporting transitions
  • A solution focussed approach

Required experience 

The successful applicant must have relevant experience and understanding to support educators across the system to develop their skills and professional development around multiagency transition planning.

They require to have current specialist knowledge, experience and practice of:

  • Working knowledge and understanding of the principles of good transition. 
  • Working effectively with children and young people with ASN, including those with complex /complexity of need.
  • Working effectively with colleagues and families
  • An understanding of developing appropriate strategic and operational approaches to support effective capacity building at all levels of transition planning within the educational and wider community.

The main responsibility of an Education Scotland Associate is to support improvement of national priorities.

ESAs work alongside Education Scotland staff to enhance specialist capacity and support improvement and policy at national and local level.

As part of this work ESAs:

  • engage in professional discussions with practitioners, stakeholders, and senior managers
  • Identify and promote highly effective practice
  • gather and analyse information, including statistical data, from a wide range of sources
  • maintain a high level of awareness of current and developing policy and practice in specific aspects of education provision
  • engage in appropriate professional learning and development to build and maintain professional knowledge and expertise
  • take account of equality and diversity in all aspects of work
  • model good practice, challenge discrimination and promote equality to encourage positive outcomes across all education aspects and services

This is an opportunity to strengthen relationships and collaborate with local government colleagues. You will provide support where it is most needed.

Thank you for your interest in becoming an Education Scotland Associate at this pivotal time in Scottish education.

Working with stakeholders, you will play a vital role in supporting improvement in Scottish education for the benefit of learners.

Scottish Government's ambition is to be a world leading, diverse employer where people can be themselves at work.

We want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any adjustments to our recruitment process, please let us know. 

To contact us about adjustments or for further information regarding this post please email the Education Scotland Associates Mailbox.

As part of any recruitment process, Scottish Government and associated public bodies collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants and applicants for public appointments.

Personal information you provide in the recruitment process will be made available to Scottish Government and our additional data processors.
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