The consultation on amendments to the Additional Support for Learning (Scotland) Act 2004 includes consideration of:

• the rights of young people and parents of children with additional support needs to make out of area placing requests
• following a successful out of area placing request, parental and young people's access to mediation and dispute resolution from the host authority and
• increased parental and young people's rights in respect of access to the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland (ASNTS) regarding failures by the education authority

Announcing the consultation Cabinet Secretary for Education Fiona Hyslop said: "The ASL Act aims to help all children get the support they need when they need it. I believe that the Act introduced by the last Government needs strengthened and the proposals we have brought forward today will identify and help more children who need it.

"We have become much better at ensuring pupils with additional learning needs get suitable support and helping other children better understand that some of their classmates need more or different support.

"It is also important to remember the ASL Act is not just about helping pupils with learning difficulties. The Act extends provision to include pupils who, for whatever reason, need support to access and benefit from school. That could also be nurturing a particular talent.

"We all want every child to fulfil their potential and be the best they can be. I believe the proposals we have launched today will help make that happen for more children across our country."

The proposed amendments being consulted on are to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (the ASL Act). The Scottish Government propose to introduce two new grounds for appeal where there has been problems that have prevented young people and parents from being able to submit references to the ASNTS where:

• the Education Authority fails to acknowledge a parental (or young person's) request to establish whether his/her child (they) requires a co-ordinated support plan (CSP)
• the Education Authority has issued its proposal to establish whether a child or young person requires a CSP and
• 16 weeks later it has failed to issue a decision either way

The Scottish Government will send the consultation document to a multitude of stakeholders for their comments.

Additionally, Children in Scotland, supported by the Scottish Government, will host a series of eight consultation events throughout Scotland during the week commencing June 2, 2008.

The consultation is available at Scottish Government

This article was taken from Scottish Government, 9 May 2008