Learning Support Teachers attend all Parent Evenings and welcome any approach made by a parent. Parents are also welcome to request meetings at other times.

Behaviour Support

The school has a Behaviour Support Co-ordinator who works very closely with a small number of pupils who are experiencing major behavioural difficulties. This person liaises directly with Senior Management, the Learning Support Department, and the Guidance team, to ensure that support for behaviour draws upon as many sources of information and assistance as possible.

Additional Support for Learning

At any point in their lives children or young people may need extra help with their education. This may be for any reason and at any time. This is often referred to as additional support for learning or having additional support needs.

Some examples of why a child/young person may require extra help with their education are:

• Bereavement or family illness
• Problems at home
• Bullying
• Being particularly gifted or able
• An illness, disability or sensory impairment
• Having English as an Additional Language

A child/young person’s needs may last for a short time, and the problem may be resolved easily. Or their needs might be very complex, and they may require additional support for a number of years.

If you feel that your child needs additional support for learning, the first person to speak to is your child’s teacher. You have the right to request an assessment of your child. Within our schools we operate a model of staged intervention where support is provided in varied ways to meet individual needs. Our approach to assessment ensures that the needs of children and young people are recognised and appropriate support can be provided.

You can also speak to the Education Team Leader at your local Integrated Children’s Services office.

Eildon
10 -12 Galapark, Galashiels TD1 1EU

Tel. 01896 661880

Parents/carers are always involved in making decisions about their child’s education and we will always ask your permission before any specific referrals are made. While your child is receiving support, we will regularly review your child’s progress.

At times, parents/carers and schools may come into dispute. While we would always hope that difficulties could be resolved at the school level we recognise that parents or young people may wish to formalise their concerns. To assist with this we have a complaints procedure and also offer independent mediation and adjudication. It is also possible under certain circumstances to refer the case to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland.

The statutory framework for Additional Support for Learning is the Education [Additional Support For Learning] [ Scotland] Acts 2004 and 2009. A good place to find independent information is Enquire, the Scottish advice service for Additional Support for Learning. They have a wealth of information, including practical guides and fact sheets for both parents/carers and young people. You can find the website at www.enquire.org.uk, or ring them on 0845 123 2303.

Pupil Support Group

Each week the Behaviour Support Co-ordinator, Principal Teacher of Learning Support, Principal Teacher of Guidance and a Depute Head (chair) meet to discuss strategies and tactics to help support pupils whose learning is suffering for any of a variety of reasons. Parents are informed if some action is deemed appropriate by the group.