Many thanks to Helen Milne for her interesting talk on Solution Focused Approaches.

Here are the notes from the talk: 

• ASN Leaflet 1
• SOA ADHD Talk

PRACTICAL RESPONSES to Adult ADHD

A one day course for adults with ADHD and people who care for them and /or work with them.
15 October 2011, London
For more information please contact:info@addiss.co.uk

The Many Faces of ADHD

A conference for parents and professionals
London
For more information please contact:info@addiss.co.uk

New Guidance on School Exclusions

In March 2011 the Scottish Government published new national guidance; Included, engaged and involved Part 2: a positive approach to managing school exclusions.

The overarching aim is to support whole school communities, learning establishments and their partners to keep all children fully included in their education, wherever it takes place.

A copy of the guidance can be downloaded from their website at www.scotland.gov.uk

A Guide for Parents about School Attendance

April 2010

This booklet describes important aspects of the support your child is entitled to if school attendance is a problem.

Visit the website www.scotland.gov.uk for more information

Out of site, out of mind?

An overview of provision for children and young people with behavioural needs in local authority bases and special schools with examples of emerging good practice.

This is one of a series of reports following up on issues identified in the report, Better Behaviour, Better Learning.

For more information visit enquiries@hmie.gsi.gov.uk  

Educational Psychology in Scotland: making a difference

An aspect report of the findings of inspections of Local Authority Educational Psychology Services from 2006 to 2010.

For more information visit HM inspectorate of Education's website enquiries@hmie.gov.uk

Supporting Learners - Additional Support for Learning and Curriculum for Excellence

The Scottish Government are organising two free events for parents on the recent changes to policies and legislation which support children and young people. The aim of the events is to enable parents to get information about the changes to the Additional Support for Learning Act, their rights and sources of information.

2 March 2011 6.30pm - 8.30pm Mile End School 141 Mid Stocket Road Aberdeen

For further details and to reserve a place please e-mail Hannah Goodrum, call 01312222431 or visit the Children in Scotland website.

Bullying...What Can I Do?

(Feb 2011)

This new resource offers practical advice and guidance to children and young people who are being bullied. It is designed to give them the confidence to consider options and to make informed choices when experiencing being bullied. It is aimed at 12 to 18 year olds and was developed by Childline.

See Scottish Alliance for Children's Rights or visit Childline

EDUCATION

Education has seen many changes for schools during the past year with the Curriculum for Excellence and preparation for the new duties arising from the Education (Additional Support for Learning)(Scotland) Act 2009 and the Equality Act 2010.

Curriculum for Excellence

The Curriculum for Excellence aims to raise the standard of learning and teaching for children from the ages of 3 to 18 and equip pupils with the skills and knowledge they need to meet the challenges they may face upon leaving school. The focus of the Curriculum for Excellence is support for children and recognises that some children, for a variety of reasons may need additional targeted support. It aims to ensure that the education system has the flexibility to meet the learning and support needs of each individual child.

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009

This Act was amended in June 2009 with the changes being ratified on 14 November 2010 and follows on from the previous Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act of 2004. The new Act does not change the basic purpose of the 2004 Act and aims to strengthen and clarify certain parts.

Some of the changes include:

• Children who are looked after by a local authority will now automatically be assumed to have additional support needs (unless they are assessed and found not to have additional support needs).
• The term "support" now includes help that is given not only in school but also in other places in order to help a child make the most of their school education.
• If a child has additional support needs parents may now ask their local authority for a specific type of assessment at any time. In the past parents were only able to ask the authority to identify whether their child had additional support needs or required a coordinated support plan.
• Local Authorities must publish information where parents and carers can find information, advice and support.
• Local Authorities have a responsibility to assess young disabled children (generally aged from birth to 3 years) and provide additional support if required, in agreement with their parents.
• The parents of children with additional support needs can make placing requests to any local authority run school or independent special school in Scotland and this includes schools outside of the local authority in which they live.
• The reasons that a parent or young person can make a referral to the Additional Support Needs tribunal have been extended.

Equality Act 2010

This Act aims to provide a simple, single legal framework to address disadvantage and discrimination. Schools and local authorities havea responsibility to ensure they are not discriminating against pupils who attend, or who are about to attend, a school.

More information on these Acts can be found at the following:

www.enquire.org.uk

Parentzone at www.Itscotland.org.uk/supportinglearners/

www.equalityhumanrights.com

This information has been obtained from ENQUIRE (The Scottish Advice Service for Additional Support for Learning)

Check out the BBC website for news on ADHD:
Sept 2010 "Parents of ADHD children to be offered training"