Additional support for learning
Occasionally, a child may face difficulties preventing them from effective learning. We identify them as having additional support needs, which may be short term, or for their whole school journey.
Our Early Childhood Centres have a variety of procedures to assist in the early identification of children with additional support needs and planning will take place at the earliest possible stage.
Children and young people who have been identified as having additional support needs will be supported through an Action Plan (AP), Individual Learning Plan (ILP) or in some cases a Coordinated Support Plan (CSP).
You and your child will be fully involved in developing these plans at all stages.
Additional and more specific information on Additional Support Needs can be found on our Additional support for learning page.
Medical conditions
It’s essential that you let us know of any particular medical conditions or requirement(s) your child might have. Written parental consent is also required for the administration of medicines.
Please let the school/centre know of any change in your contact information, any change in a child’s medical condition and of arrangements we should make should your child become ill, or need require to be taken home.
Dental health
The Childsmile Nursery and School Programmes provide preventive oral health advice and support for children aged three and upwards.
Free oral health packs containing a toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste and oral health information is given to all children in early childhood centres, partner centres and in primary 1. This programme follows on from the Early Years baby pack, given out during baby’s first year. You can find out more on the Childsmile website.
Daily supervised tooth brushing takes place in all early childhood centres and partner centres. Additional preventive care is offered with the application of fluoride varnish twice a year. Every year, all primary 1 and 7 pupils are offered a free dental inspection in school.
This helps make sure you and your child are receiving all the support needed to maintain your child’s dental health - and take any steps required to remedy any problems that may have arisen. The data collected is also useful for planning and evaluating dental health care initiatives directed towards improvements.
Hearing impairment service
The Ayrshire Deaf Education Service supports hearing impaired children and their families from diagnosis until school leaving age.
Our Teachers of the Deaf and our Sign Language Assistant also visit children at home and in educational establishments throughout North, South and East Ayrshire.
The service will listen to you, your thoughts and ideas and help you to learn about your child’s hearing loss.
It will help explain your child’s hospital audiograms and reports and advise on your child’s language development.
It will also work with you to provide the best possible support for your child, from diagnosis of a hearing loss until they leave school.
They can also introduce you to other parents and offer information about other local services.
Psychological services
Our Educational Psychologists make visits to our schools regularly.
Their role is to assist and help children experiencing barriers to their learning, by providing advice and consultation, through working with teachers, staff and parents
The Educational Psychologist can be involved in consultation around general issues that may arise regarding particular children. The Educational Psychologist will not undertake formal assessment, or meet with your child, without your prior consent and this will be discussed with you by the school.
Where consent is given, the school will keep you up-to-date with the support on offer, any needs that are identified and the Educational Psychologist’s role in supporting your child.
Other school staff may become involved in supporting your child and, again, this will also be discussed with you as part of the process.
The school can give you more information or visit the Psychological Service website.
East Ayrshire Support Team
East Ayrshire Support Team (EAST) helps by providing support with early identification/assessment of a child’s needs.
They can then offer support through curriculum development, planning of teaching, mentoring, reviewing and staff development.
For information to other related services for young people, see East Ayrshire Support Team (EAST).
If you believe your child has additional support needs please contact your school or centre.
Spiritual, social, moral and cultural values
Occasionally, parents from different religious communities may wish their children to be absent from school to celebrate religious events and we will support this.
We believe that religious and moral helps children become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.
However, you can choose to withdraw your child from religious observance and we’ll respect your wishes, making arrangements for your child to undertake a different alternative activity. Your child will never be disadvantaged as a result of withdrawing from religious observance.
Anti-bullying
We want every child in East Ayrshire to grow up free from bullying behaviour and we’re fully committed making sure children and young people become confident individuals and responsible citizens.
We take bullying very seriously and work to prevent it. Should an incidence of bullying occur, we will respond quickly and effectively to deal with this behaviour.
You can find more information on our Anti-bullying page.