Legislation and guidance we all work within and to:
Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) is the national approach in Scotland to improving outcomes and supporting the wellbeing of our children and young people by offering the right help at the right time from the right people. It supports them and their parent(s) to work in partnership with the services that can help them, as set out on the Scottish Government website.
The Health & Social Care Alliance Scotland (the Alliance) GIRFEC project is aimed at raising awareness of Getting It Right For Every Child for disabled children and those living with long term conditions and their parents and carers. They have excellent resources and materials for parents and third sector practitioners to understand and use the GIRFEC approach.
Additional Support for Learning The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 provides the legal framework for the provision of additional support for learning. The legislation was amended by the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009. The key duties on education authorities are to identify, make provision for, and review provision for the additional support needs of children and young people for whose education they are responsible.
Children’s rights The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) sets out a holistic framework for the rights of all children and young people.
The Common Core describes the skills, knowledge and understanding, and values that everyone should have if they work with children, young people and their families, whether they are paid or unpaid. They are cross-referenced to the guiding principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the values are taken from Getting It Right For Every Child approach.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) The Scottish Government’s Delivery Plan (2016-2020) sets out to deliver that disabled people have the same freedom, dignity, choice and control over their lives as everyone else, with rights to practical assistance and support at home, at work and in the wider community.
The Scottish Parliament’s Education & Skills Committee consider and report on matters falling within the responsibility of the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. Their current business remit includes Additional Support Needs in School Education.
Organisations you will find useful
Scottish Families a national website for the Family Information Services (FIS) in each of the local authorities in Scotland, providing parents, carers, professionals with information on childcare in local area, including childminders, nurseries, out of school care, holiday provision
ENQUIRE is the Scottish advice and information service for additional support for learning.
Education Law Unit at Govan Law Centre is Scotland’s expert legal resource in the field of school education.
Children’s Health Scotland is the only charity in Scotland dedicated to informing, promoting and campaigning on behalf of the needs of all sick children and young people within our healthcare system.
Children in Scotland is the national agency for voluntary, statutory and professional organisations and individuals working with children and their families in Scotland.
Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights) an alliance of Scottish children’s charities that works to improve the awareness, understanding and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Every child and young person under the age of 18 has rights, no matter who they are, where they live or what they believe in.
Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS) aims to ensure the voice of people living with long term conditions is heard.
The National Clinical Managed Network for Children with Exceptional Needs (NCMN CEN).
Parenting across Scotland (PAS) is a partnership of Scottish charities working together to provide a focus on issues affecting families in Scotland.
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland is Bruce Adamson. He works with his team to protect the rights of children and young people
SACR is the Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights and works to promote the full implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
YouthLink Scotland represents the interests and aspirations of the youth work sector of the voluntary and statutory.
Young Scot is the national youth information and citizenship charity. They provide young people, aged 11 – 26, with information, ideas and incentives to help them become confident, informed and active citizens.
Campaigns similar to fSDC across the UK
All over the UK organisations are campaigning for rights and justice for disabled children and young people.
Every Disabled Child Matters is the campaign in England now called the Disabled Children’s Partnership
Disabled Children Matter Wales is the campaign in Wales.
Children with Disabilities Strategic Alliance (CDSA) Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI) co-chairs the Children with Disabilities Strategic Alliance (CDSA) alongside Disability Action. CDSA wants to ensure that policy impacting on the lives of children and young people with disabilities is informed by their needs and circumstances across Northern Ireland.
