Introduction

Aberdeen City Council has a policy of inclusion, the main aim of which is to ensure that children and young people with additional support needs receive adequate and efficient provision as stated in the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Our definition of inclusion is:

“the process of developing flexible systems to support the needs of all children and young people through collaborative partnership working.”

Our aim is to provide a continuum of provision to provide the most appropriate support to the individual child or young person.

Inclusion is about ensuring access to the services and facilities that children and young people need to achieve their full potential. It is also about “the quality of children and young people’s experience; how they are helped to develop, learn, achieve and participate in the life of their school and broader community.”

“An educationally inclusive school is one in which the teaching and learning achievements, attitudes, and wellbeing of every young person matter. Effective schools are educationally inclusive schools. This shows not only in their performance, but also in their ethos and their willingness to offer new opportunities to pupils who may experience difficulties.” Strategy for Learning

In , as part of our strategy for learning, we are in the process of moving towards three tiers or levels of provision for 5 – 18 year olds:

Tier 1: Mainstream primary and secondary schools with on-site support/provision

Tier 2: Mainstream primary and secondary schools with extended facilities/resources

Tier 3: Free-standing specialist school

Details of the range of provision available across tier 1, 2 and 3 is contained within the school booklet/prospectus for each individual school. Each provision caters for a wide range of needs. 1st Tier Provision: Mainstream

We believe that, wherever possible, children and young people should have the opportunity to be educated in their local community.

In Aberdeen we have

§ 52 primary schools § 12 secondary schools

In the 51 primary schools we have:

§ 20 additional support needs bases § 2 language units at Sunnybank and Schools § 1 dyslexia unit at Kaimhill School

In the 12 secondary schools we have:

§ 12 additional support needs bases § 12 support for learning teams across associated school groups § Behaviour support bases in most secondary schools § 5 MICAS bases (Mainstream Integration for Children on the Autistic Spectrum) at:

Bucksburn Academy

Across the city we have:

§ Educational Psychology Service § Pupil Support Service (for children and young people with social, emotional and behavioural needs) § Hospital and Home Tuition Service § EAL (English as an Additional Language) Service § Sensory Support Service § Autism Outreach Service § TASSCC (Technological Assessment and Support Service for Children and t he Curriculum) § MOVE (Mobility Opportunities via Education) training service § Educational social workers 2nd Tier Provision: Mainstream Extended

Extended specialist provision for up to 70 primary and 80 secondary age pupils is available at:

§ Mile-End School § Academy

Mile-End School includes provision for up to 70 primary age pupils with additional support needs out of a school role of 485 pupils. The capacity for Mile-End School is 415+70 = 485.

Bucksburn Academy Wing includes provision for up to 96 secondary school age pupils out of a school role of 525 pupils. The capacity for Bucksburn Academy is 650.

The primary school has three classrooms at each stage, one of which will meet the needs of children with additional support needs. Within the primary school the three classrooms are grouped together to allow pupils to develop positive relationships and opportunities to work collaboratively across sector where appropriate.

The secondary school wing has ten additional support needs classes with specialist equipment. Curriculum delivery for pupils in the Additional Support Needs Wing is shared between additional support needs class teachers and subject specialists across the whole school.

Additional support needs provision at both Mile-End School and Bucksburn Academy can be accessed by children and young people across the city. 3rd Tier Provision: Free-Standing Special School Provision

Provision for Children and Young People with Complex Needs

Some children and young people have more complex needs and benefit from free-standing special school provision.

Complex needs arise from significant developmental delay and associated profound and/or multiple learning difficulties. This group of children and young people require additional support from a range of professionals and benefit from a specialised learning environment.

At present we have two special schools catering for pupils with more complex needs:

§ Hazlewood School § Woodlands School

Hazlewood School is located in the Woodend area of the city, off Kingsgate, and caters for up to 68 pupils from primary one to secondary six.

Woodlands School is located in Regent Walk behind Linksfield Community Swimming Pool off King Street and caters for 55 pupils from primary one to secondary six.

Following a detailed review of provision for children with complex needs, planning is underway for the development of a new specialist provision for pupils ages 3 – 18 years.

Provision for Children and Young People with Social, Emotional and Behavioural Needs

At present we have one free-standing special school, Cordyce School which caters for up to 44 full-day placement for children and young people with social, emotional and behavioural needs. Cordyce School is located on Riverside Drive in Dyce. A review is underway on the proposed redevelopment of the Cordyce School site and will consider the option of a residential facility. For Information and General Enquiries

Details of these services are available through: Family Information Service (FIS) All enquiries are confidential Phone: 01224 814803 Email: [email protected] Text: 07825 053136 All telephone enquiries: (Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm) www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/fis

Parents of children attending schools within Aberdeen school should contact the head teacher of the school:

Hazlewood School Cordyce School Jill Barry Maureen Simmers Tel: 01224 321363 Tel: 01224 724215

Mile-End School Woodlands School Eleanor Sheppard Caroline Stirton Tel: 01224 498140 Tel: 01224 524393

Bucksburn Academy Kas Mohamed Tel: 01224 710700

Parents of children educated outwith the city should write to: Principal Educational Psychologist Educational Psychology Service Balgownie One AECC, Conference Way Bridge of Don, AB23 8AQ Tel 01224 814522