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Helping your Child Access a First Class Education.

Independent schools want a rich and diverse student body. If your child has additional support needs, for example to manage Dyslexia, Dyscalculia or Dyspraxia, you’ll find most of the Scottish schools listed have a dedicated Support for Learning Department. 

How do I find out about ASN teaching capabilities at a school?

When you arrange a tour, or visit the Open Day, the Admissions Secretary will be able to arrange one-to-ones with key members of staff from the Support for Learning team. The aim will always be to give your child the extra resources, and teach them the strategies they need to get the most out of their education. 

Complex Additional Support Needs

There are 19 independent special schools around Scotland who are members of SCIS. The schools provide a mixture of residential education, day education and short break services for children of all ages.

These schools work with children and young people with the most severe and profound difficulties whose needs cannot be met by local authority schools. In most instances, children and young people attending independent special schools have the cost of their care and education met by their Local Authority. 

Qualifications offered in independent special schools

Our independent special schools offer qualifications awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). Some also offer additional, specialist qualifications such as ASDAN (Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network), CACPD (Council for Advancement of Communication with Deaf People) and BS (British Sign Language.)

Useful organisations to talk to

Enquire are the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning and have an excellent website and helpline (0345 123 2303).  They also publish a number of useful guides https://enquire.org.uk/publications/Mindroom have links to direct help and support. 

The Scottish Government’s Parentzone website offers up to date information on how schools plan for Additional Support Needs and what help is available. 

Find a school that's right for your child.