​The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act (2004) provides the legal framework for the provision of additional support for learning. The legislation was amended by the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act (2009).

The Act is structured around the concept of support being needed for any reason, and for short or long-term periods determined by the individual learning needs of the child or young person.  The key duties on education authorities are to identify, make provision for, and review provision for the additional support needs of children and young people for whose education they are responsible.

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

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act (2004) places duties on education authorities (and in certain circumstances health, social work and Skills Development Scotland), to work to plan and make joint provision for children and young people with complex or multiple additional support needs. Where their needs are: significant; require support from education and another partner agency; and will last more than one year, children and young people may have a statutory co-ordinated support plan to bring together all of the support to be provided to meet their learning needs.

Reflective questions

• What are additional support needs?
• Why may children have additional support needs?
• When can a child or young person be identified with additional support needs?

Link(s) to legislation

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