Council moves forward with new enhanced support bases for children with additional support needs

Date: 
Thursday, 29 March, 2018

Following an in-depth consultation the Council has agreed to relocate the Language and Communication Resource Services at Twechar Primary School and establish enhanced support bases at Castlehill and Wester Cleddens Primary Schools for children with additional support needs.

A consultation was launched in November 2017 and was distributed to parents, staff and pupils at affected schools, members of the Community Planning Partnership Board and trades unions.  Education Scotland also visited the schools affected to meet parents, pupils and teachers and produced an independent report on the educational impact of the consultation. 

Key issues were identified during the consultation process and as a result the Council will deliver the following:

  • A detailed overview of the transition planning process for discussion with staff and parents
  • Communication with staff and parents in relation to the transition process and deliver a professional learning programme for staff.
  • Consultation with the Parent Councils on the proposed accommodation changes at the schools, and continued engagement with parents and staff to ensure designs meet the needs of the schools.
  • Meetings with staff and parents at both schools to discuss –
    • Procedures for day-to-day planning and management of pupil interactions;
    • Staffing within the bases, including management time; and
    • Staff training and guidance.
  • The provision of a more detailed description of the educational impact of proposals.

Councillor Jim Goodall, Convener of the Education Committee, said, “Thanks to everyone who took the time to take part in this consultation, your feedback has been vital in this process.  We have taken on board all the issues raised at the public meeting and through our questionnaires and will address these moving forward.

“I would like to reassure parents that the needs of individual children will be paramount throughout this process and that the relocation of the Language and Communication Resource Services is of educational benefit to those children currently using these services and for those who will attend in the future.” 

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