Contact details for these services can be found here.
The Education (Scotland) Act 1980 outlines the key duties of the education authority to provide adequate and efficient provision for education within the local authority and to identify children aged 2 and over with SEN within it’s area.
The legal definition states that children have special educational needs if they have a learning difficulty which calls for provision of special educational needs to be made for them. A learning difficulty is present if the child has significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of those of their age or if they have a disability which prevents or hinders them making use of educational facilities of a kind usually provided for children of their age. This includes many children with ASD. There are a number of autism specific services which are available within South Lanarkshire.
The Psychological Services is part of the local authorities statutory provision for children and young people (0 – 19 years). Referrals to Psychological Services in the pre-school years usually come from Community Medical Officer, Health Visitor, Pre-5 Support Teacher, Pre-5 Establishment, Speech and Language Therapist or parents. For those children of school age referrals are usually made through the child’s school. Psychologists are based in three local teams and each will have some children with ASD on their caseload.
The role of the Educational Psychologist is to assess children’s needs in collaboration with all adults involved with the child. They can advise and make recommendations about school placement and specialist support for children including services to school age children, primary and secondary with a new diagnosis.
Educational Psychologists offer consultation and advice to schools, parents and other agencies on all aspects of children’s learning and behaviour. Each school has a named Psychologist to facilitate this process.
Within both North and South Lanarkshire, Psychological Services contribute to a multi-disciplinary forum which aims to develop a comprehensive and integrated service for children and young people with ASD.
The education authority provides the Early Years Support Service for children who have been identified as having special educational needs. Referral for support can be made by any individual involved with the child e.g. GP, Health Visitor, Speech and Language Therapist, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Community Paediatrician, Nursery Staff and parents. The Early Years Specialist Support Teacher is able to work in homes or in pre-5 establishments and can offer support and advice to parents and nursery staff to enable them to support the child’s development, offer information about local resources and advise about the most suitable provision, liaise with all other agencies as appropriate and provide a useful link between home and nursery as required.
Autism Outreach Service
The aim of this service is to collaborate with parents, staff in early years establishments and with support networks to maximise opportunities for young children on the autistic spectrum. Support can be targeted at home or in educational establishments dependent on the need. Support may include consultation and advice, parental support, collaborative working with parents and school staff, direct involvement in schools with pupils, staff and other professionals and facilitation of transitions, e.g., pre-school to primary and primary to secondary. Request for their service is made by Psychological Services.
Pre-SCAT (Pre-School Community Assessment Team)
To ensure a coordinated approach to services for pre school children the education authority, through the Educational Psychologist, will arrange a Pre-SCAT meeting for all agencies working with the child and the family to discuss the future needs of the child. Parents are fully involved in the meeting. Pre-SCAT meeting are usually held at key stages, usually on entry to nursery or school. (There is flexibility of timing and frequency of meetings depending on the need of the child.) The aims of the Pre-SCAT meeting are to identify appropriate educational provision and resources which will be necessary to meet the specific needs of the child and to offer support and advice by fostering good communication and liaison between all the agencies that are involved with the support of the child. For further information contact your local Psychological Services Team.
Pre-five provision
Although at the present time there is no autism specific nursery provision for pre-5’s, the local authority does welcome children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorders into all mainstream pre-5 establishments run by them and in Partnership with them. The local Early Years Specialist Support Teachers and the Pre-5 Autism Outreach Teacher, based in Chatelherault, can offer valuable support and advice to staff in the support of children with ASD in all pre-5 establishments.
Within the boundary of South Lanarkshire there are three Special Needs Nurseries which provide some expertise in meeting the needs of young children with ASD. Application for a place for your child within these establishments is usually made through the Educational Psychologist. However The Early Learning Unit is happy for parents to apply in person prior to a supported application being made on the child’s behalf by the Educational Psychologist, Health Visitor, Speech and Language Therapist or Medical Officer.
Pre-5 provision for children with Special Educational Needs:
Victoria Park Nursery Class, Carluke.
Early Learning Unit, Hamilton.
Greenburn Nursery Class, East Kilbride.
ASD Specialist Primary Provision
The local Authority recognises that for some children who have ASD that specialist provision, that is Autism Specific provision, may offer the best approach to learning and teaching for these children. For this reason the Local Authority at the present time has three ASD bases within mainstream Primary Schools which offer the best in specialised provision with the opportunity for inclusion within a mainstream environment.
Chatelherault ASD Base, Chatelherault Primary School, Hamilton
Crosshouse ASD Base, Crosshouse Primary School, East Kilbride
Victoria Park Autistic Unit, Victoria Park School, Carluke
ASD Specialist Secondary Provision
As the programme of re-buliding South Lanarkshire's schools continues, the provision of seconardy places should increase. There is an ASD unit planned for Duncanrig High School in East Kilbride. Currently, there is provision at the following establishments.
CDU, Hamilton Grammar School, Hamilton
Sanderson High School, East Kilbride
About Autism Index
Autism In Lananarkshire
What is autism?
What is Asperger syndrome?
'Next Steps' Resources
More About Autism & Asperger syndrome
Frequently Asked Questions
Interventions
Education Services
Health Services
Social Work Services
Leisure Services
Contacts page
