Additional Support for Learning

Our Additional Support for Learning Team at Castleview comprises

Lindsey Robertson ~ Head Teacher and ASL Team Leader

Clare Langley ~ Principal Teacher

Jane Kelly ~ Acting Principal Teacher

Vicky McPherson ~ Support for Learning Teacher

Lesley Boyd ~ Behaviour Support Teacher

The Additional Support for Learning Team work to ensure that assessment, intervention, planning, provision and review are timely, solution focused and effective.

Learning Assistants

Our Learning assistants support learning and teaching in the classroon, in particular, focusing on pupils with additional support needs. The overview of the work of the Learning Assistants is led by the Support for Learning Team Leader but they are managed on a daily basis by the class teachers and timetabled to support individuals and groups of pupils by the Additional Support for Learning Team.

Elizabeth Morton

Christine McDowall

Erica Aitken

Shirley McNab

Brenda Feeney

Linda Bruce

Mission Statement

At Castleview, Additional Support for Learning is an integral part of all teaching and learning. It aims to provide all children with the support they need to be actively involved in their own learning and to work towards achieving their full potential in all areas of the curriculum.

The ASL Team work together to provide support to pupils, staff and parents at Castleview.

Aims

To provide equal opportunities for all children, including those with additional support needs, and to have the highest expectations set for them all to achieve to the best of their ability.
To offer programmes of work which will provide continuity and progression for all pupils, where content is relevant to age, aptitude, experience and need.
To provide an environment in which pupils feel valued. To raise children’s self esteem and sense of achievement.
To review individual pupil’s needs and progress through regular consultation between Class Teachers and the Additional Support for Learning Team
To work in partnership with parents to ensure the best provision is made for each individual child

Support for Learning staff roles within the school include:

$planning to reflect children’s needs

$teaching and learning, taking into account a range of needs and learning

$collaborative working

$keeping track of how children are getting on

$helping children with any difficulties that arise

$keeping parents informed

$supporting transitions

$identifying any barriers to learning

$identifying areas for development and putting improvements into place

$accelerated learning programmes for gifted and talented pupils

Additional support plans (ASPs):

Are produced by school staff for children with additional support needs which can be met all or most of the time from support provided in class. They provide a simple summary of the additional support and the child’s progress.

Individualised Educational Programmes (IEPs):

Are produced for children with more complex needs that require extensive modifications to the curriculum. These plans detail the additional support needs and the support that will be provided to meet those needs, educational targets and adaptations to the school curriculum to help the child achieve those targets.

Coordinated Support Plans (CSPs):

Are produced for children who require significant levels of additional support from the Education Authority, and from at least one other agency – for example the health service. These children need a plan which coordinates the support provided by all the people providing support.

Partnership with External Services

The Education (Additional Support for Learning) ( Scotland ) Act 2004 provides for integrated working across agencies. At Castleview we access support as required from Partnership Agencies who support children across the City of Edinburgh:

2 The English as an Additional Language Service

Support bilingual learners who require additional support when learning English as an Additional Language.

2 The Community Child Health Service

Support children with medical and developmental conditions which may have an impact on a child’s wellbeing and ability to access educational provision.

Each school has a school nurse as its first point of contact for parents, pupils and staff on matters relating to health. Our main aim is to detect any health problems early so children can enjoy school life to the full.

Our school nurse is Josie Booth.

2 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS)

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service comprises multi-professional teams who work with children and young people where an emotional, behavioural or other mental health concern may be present. The service includes a number of health care professions including psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, nurses and community mental health workers who work as members of area or specialist teams within the service.

2 Speech and Language Therapists (SLT)

Speech and Language Therapists work with parents/carers and others to assess if a child has speech, language, and/or communication difficulties, or eating and drinking difficulties. The therapist will consider the difficulties the child has and the impact these will have on his/her life. If appropriate the therapist will decide how the child can be helped to reach their full communication potential.

2 Occupational Therapists (OT)

The role of the Occupational Therapist is to work with children who have difficulties with the practical and social skills necessary for their everyday life.

An Occupational Therapist will aim to enable the child to be as physically, psychologically and socially independent as possible.

2 Physiotherapists

The role of the Physiotherapist is to assess and manage children and young people with movement disorders, disability or illness. The aim of the physiotherapist is to help the child/young person reach their full potential through providing physical intervention, advice and support.

2The Hospital and Outreach Teaching Service (HOTS)

Provide educational support to meet the needs of vulnerable children and young people experiencing interrupted education.

2 The e team

Support pupils who have additional support needs which can benefit significantly from access to technology. They may need alternative access devices, personal laptop computers, predictive word-processors, specific software programs, screen readers or adaptations of classroom systems.

2 Psychological Services

Can be involved with children and young people who have additional support needs for any reason. This would include learners who experience learning difficulties; social, emotional or behaviour difficulties; sensory difficulties; physical or health needs; along with more able learners.

The Educational Psychologist allocated to our school is Irene Jardine who is based at McDonald Road, telephone 0131 469 2800.

2 Visiting Teaching Support Services (VTSS)

This team works with children and young people who have communication difficulties, learning disabilities, challenging behaviour or physical difficulties including Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Speech and Language Impairment. Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome and challenging behaviour as a result of a disability.

2 Bfriends and Richmond Hope

These are voluntary organisations who can provide an extracurricular activity which the child’s family could not provide themselves. This could include one to one support and bereavement and loss counselling.

2 Social Services

Can help children and families cope with to help a child cope with family issues which are impacting on school progress.

2 East Working Together

Is a Craigmillar Team whose workers support children experiencing difficulties with their school placement.

Our allocated Team Worker is Michaela Webster based at 1 Craigmillar Castle Avenue, telephone, 0131 652 2224.

2 Supporting Learning Services

This service offers advice to Head Teachers, ASL Team Leaders and Support for Learning staff on all issues pertaining to Additional Support Needs. The service comprises:

Support Co-ordinators
Dyslexia Support Service
Inclusion and Moving and Handling Consultant

Our Support Coordinator is Sandra Milne based at McDonald Road, telephone 0131 469 2980.

Useful Links

SNIP

Royal Hospital for Sick Children Room 7, 14 Rillbank Terrace Edinburgh EH9 1LNTel: 0131 536 0583

http://www.snipinfo.org

Enquire Children in Scotland

5 Shandwick Place Edinburgh EH2 4RG Helpline No: 0845 123 2303 Textphone: 0131 22 2439

http://www.childreninscotland.org.uk