Additional learning needs: Decision-making process

5. Who is able to support in making decisions?

We take a partnership approach to working with families and learners. Our Parent Partnership Services provide support and advice to families and learners who have concerns. Collaboration is important to identify needs and plan to support children and young people with ALN and may include input from a variety of partners, such as Educational and Child Psychologists, Advisory Teachers, Health professionals etc. 

Specialist services can offer advice and support schools with strategies and suggest interventions and provision. In some cases, specialist services will provide the additional learning provision (ALP). A multi-disciplinary approach in identifying and supporting children and young people who may have additional learning needs is required. Specialist services can:

• support schools to identify and meet the needs of children and young people, such as providing advice and support on strategies and differentiation;
• provide whole school training on meeting the needs of children and young people;
• provide advice on Individual Development Plans and targets;
• support schools and local authorities in identifying needs and providing advice on ALP to be delivered, or currently being delivered;
• provide more specialist assessments of need to determine support options;
• provide advice on specialist equipment, including training for school staff on how to use it, maintain it, and how to support the child or young person to use it;
• support families to help them understand the learner’s needs and how best to support them;
• build capacity to improve what schools can deliver;
• provide a link with specialist third sector organisations;
• provide specific support during transitions.

Parent Partnership Services