A Bill launched last week by the Scottish Executive has proposed that nursery workers will contribute to co-ordinated support plans for children with learning support needs. They will also have a key role spotting those who need extra help.
The Education (Additional Support for Learning) Bill proposes the introduction of a co-ordinated support plan for children aged three and up with 'enduring complex or multiple barriers to learning'. It will be a statutory planning document for all services that support the child, including social work, health and education.
Parents will be told if their child is considered for such a plan, and they will be informed of the outcome and have a right to appeal, as well as getting a copy of the plan. These support plans will be created by multi-disciplinary teams, including early years professionals when appropriate.
A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said, 'There is provision in the Bill that anyone can draw it to the attention of an education authority that a child may have additional support needs. This first indication that a child may have additional support needs could be picked up by staff at an early years centre.
'How additional support needs are actually determined or assessed will depend very much on the child's circumstances. The education authority will have an obligation under the Bill to have arrangements in place for assessing children's needs and these are required to be published.'
The Executive has set up an ASL Advisory Group with members including June Hook from the Scottish Pre-school Play Association, and Dr Patricia Jackson, consultant paediatrician in community child health at the Sick Children's Hospital in Yorkhill, Glasgow. Sub-groups that are likely to include pre-school representatives are also be set up.
Education minister Peter Peacock described the Bill as 'a further step in our plans to tailor the education system to the needs of every child'. He said, 'It will ensure more pupils get access to the support they need - not just from the education service, but from social work and health services.
'We want to build on the better aspects of the current records of needs system and build a more active and co-ordinated range of services for children who need them.'
