Additional needs students in Scotland are taking it on themselves to ensure they and their classmates are given a fair and equal opportunity to make the most of their time in school.
Known as the Inclusion Ambassadors, these students are launching the third iteration of a national awareness campaign called the Success is Different Awards, which recognise pupil-led initiatives to raise awareness of young people with additional support needs (ASN) and include them in decision-making.
One ambassador said that this type of action is key if all pupils are to be genuinely integrated members of their schools and communities.
“If you don’t do anything about it, inclusion is just a word.”
The Inclusions Ambassadors are a group of secondary students with a wide range of ASN who work alongside advocacy group Children in Scotland to take a direct role in shaping ASN provision.
Ambassadors represent 15 local authorities and regularly meet with local education leaders, elected officials, fellow students and staff. Chris Ross manages the project for Children in Scotland and said that the ambassadors are always encouraged to speak freely and candidly – highlighting positives and pointing out where support is falling short.
He said that by engaging with young people most directly affected by ASN provision, the Inclusion Ambassadors help ensure that decisions about money and daily school life consider how all children will be impacted.
Founded in 2016, the Inclusion Ambassadors expanded their influence in 2022 when they launched their first national Success Looks Different Awards. To coincide with the announcement of the 2024 awards cycle beginning this August, Children in Scotland released a report on the 2023 winners to illustrate the types of projects that have improved the lives of young people.
2023 Success Looks Different Award Winners
Early Years
Winner: Woodlands Nursery Centre, South Lanarkshire
Runner-up: Wallacetown Early Years Centre, South Ayrshire
Primary School
Winner: Williamston Primary School, West Lothian
Runner-up: Houston Primary School, Renfrewshire
Secondary School
Winner: Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School, West Dunbartonshire
Runner-up: Park Mains High School, Renfrewshire
Special School
Winner: Fairview School, Perth & Kinross
Runner-up: East Park School, Glasgow City
Williamston Primary took home the primary award for the creation and impact of its “Neurodiversity Squad,” a group of pupils who worked with staff, the community, and their classmates to offer insight into life with neurodivergence.
One Williamston pupil said that the squad has had an immediate impact on children.
“People with autism or ADHD or dyslexia can understand themselves better now and that makes them happier.”
The staff recognised the impact on teachers, with one saying that they now feel more comfortable identifying and supporting pupils’ needs and speaking with parents.
“I would say this came from pupils being more confident about discussing their own needs and having the vocabulary to do so.”
READ MORE:
- ASN pupils are facing an "intolerable" lack of support
- Additional support needs: What are they, and how many pupils have them?
- 'Now the real work begins': Children and young people put at the heart of Scots law
Sharon Blair, a support for learning teacher at Williamston, said that the pupil-led initiative has helped the school be more intentional about including children in decisions. With the UNCRC becoming law, all public bodies must think more about this.
“Learner voice is informing and driving staff understanding, tailoring of adjustments, learning environments and professional learning.
“Learners investigated support toolkits for every learning area that could offer universal support to individuals. This included learning and wellbeing toolkits, which are now in place for every child.”
Pupils are also part of the school’s budget group and weigh in on resource needs, she said.
“Learners feel more confident in advocating for their own needs and a better understanding of the supports available.”
And headteacher Jane Livingston said that the Neurodivergent Squad has also had an impact outside of the classroom, helping parents and carers better understand what students experience at school.
“Learners planned and led a family learning and parental engagement event specific to meeting learner needs. Stations were set up to show all the different ways in which we offer both universal supports and tailored interventions.
“The parents and carers had an opportunity to try the resources for themselves or have them demonstrated by learners. This included the different ways technology can offer support. We are now working with Local Authority Education IT to trial further approached to ‘techquity’ for all.”
The squad has also invited speakers from the community who shared their neurodivergent life experiences and tips for using their “superpowers” to their advantage.
A new pilot programme from Children in Scotland has looked at launching an Inclusion Ambassadors project at the primary school level.
Lucy Johnson, Senior Development Officer for Enquire, the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning, said that giving children agency at a younger age will help them understand how to advocate for their needs later in life.
“In the last few years, the Inclusion Ambassadors group has grown from strength to strength. However, both the Inclusion Ambassadors and the team that supports them felt that there is a gap in the work we’re doing regarding the views of younger children with additional support needs.
“By extending the Inclusion Ambassador offer to younger pupils - initially through this pilot - we hope to create further opportunities for all children to engage in decisions made about their support for learning.”
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