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Scottish Learning Festival 2014

This FREE event takes place this year on  Wednesday 24th  and Thursday 25th September at the SECC, Glasgow.  This year’s theme is Raising achievement and attainment for all with a focus on maximising educational outcomes through early intervention and prevention, health and wellbeing and employability skills.

As well as being the largest education exhibition in Scotland, this event offers free seminars, keynote speakers and opportunities to discuss and network with colleagues.

Visit the SLF website to find out more and to register for the Festival.

Kidz Scotland: free event, 11th September 2014

Kidz Exhibitions are the largest FREE UK exhibitions dedicated to children with disabilities and additional support needs, their parents and carers, and the people who support them.

The event takes place at the Royal Highland Exhibition Centre, Edinburgh on Thursday 11th September from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm.

Over 120 exhibitors will attend the event, offering advice and information on mobility, seating, bathing, transport, communication, funding for equipment, leisure activities – and much more.

A full programme of FREE seminars on a wide range of issues will run alongside the exhibition. For more information and to download a free ticket, click on the link below:
Kidz Scotland

Scottish Government ASL Report

The Scottish Government recently published its third Annual Report on additional support for learning.  The report identifies 131,621 pupils in Scotland’s local authority and grant-aided schools as having additional support needs – representing almost one in five (19.5%) of all pupils.  This is an increase of 1.5% on the numbers reported in 2012.

Read a summary of the report on Enquire’s website here.

Read the full report on the Scottish Government website here.

Let’s Talk ASN

Let’s Talk ASN is a new service for the parents of children with additional support needs who may require support in relation to a dispute with an education authority.  The service offers specialist independent advocacy for parents who are considering making a reference to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal Scotland, and every case is supervised by an experienced Education Law Solicitor.

Let’s Talk ASN is a joint initiative of Govan Law Centre and Kindred.

To contact the service or to find out more:
Let’s Talk ASN, c/o Govan Law Centre, 18-20 Orkney Street, Glasgow  G51 2BZ
0141 445 1955

Education Scotland report on dyslexia, May 2014

The report is the outcome of an independent review of education for children and young people who have dyslexia, carried out on behalf of the Scottish Government.

The report identifies that although there have been improvements in practice since the last review in 2008, there is still inconsistency and variability in practice across Scotland’s 32 local authorities. The report also highlights that young people with dyslexia attain significantly less well than their peers who do not have additional support needs.

A number of recommendations are identified in the report: Making Sense: Education for Children and Young People with Dyslexia in Scotland

The free online Addressing Dyslexia Toolkit is a useful resource for parents, families, schools and local authorities.

HUBS Campaign from Enable Scotland

HUBS stands for Help Us Be Spontaneous.
All young people want to enjoy more freedom in their teenage years as they move to an independent life. When they get a text from their friend on a Saturday morning asking them to meet later that afternoon, they want to be able to get there. They want to be spontaneous.Young people who have learning disablities and mobility assistance needs can’t. They have to let the train company know about their plans up to 24 hours in advance.

HUBS is campaigning for a number of changes.
Read more here.

Enable is a membership organisation in Scotland for people with learning disabilities and family carers.

2014 Survey of parents

Children in Scotland in partnership with for Scotland’s Disabled Children is carrying out a survey of parents and carers, aimed at finding out more about the needs of families with a disabled child.
The survey will enable fSDC and Children in Scotland to represent issues important to families to the policy and decision makers, and they will be using the data gathered to assist the Scottish Government in finding ways to involve parents more meaningfully, both at a national and local level.
The survey is available here.

Please share the survey with parents and any relevant contacts. The survey can also be provided in hard copy with a prepaid return envelope on request. For more information, or to request a printed copy, please contact Fee Ferguson at fferguson@childreninscotland.org.uk or on 0131 222 2444.

Common Ground Mediation – 5 Year Celebration

Guests at celebration event
Guests at celebration event in Scottish Parliament

On Tuesday 4th September 2012 an event took place in the Scottish Parliament to celebrate Common Ground Mediation’s 5th birthday. Sarah Boyack MSP kindly hosted the event, and speakers included Alison Raeburn, Principal Officer (ASN) from West Lothian Council’s Education Services, and Lesley Fairley, mediator. The “Top Ten” achievements of Common Ground Mediation over the last 5 years were outlined, including not only mediation work but also delivery of training about conflict resolution to local authority staff, delivery of peer mediation training in a number of primary schools, and consultation with children and young people about proposed changes to their education provision.
Additional Support Needs Mediation focuses on trying to rebuild effective relationships and partnerships between parents and school staff, so that they can work together to support the child’s learning. Common Ground Mediation is pleased to have made a contribution towards restoring trust and rebuilding positive relationships.