Improving Communication in Additional Support Needs
This guide for parents and practitioners is based on a two year ESRC-funded project on avoiding and resolving disputes in the field of additional support needs, which was carried out by researchers at the Universities of Edinburgh and Manchester between 2008 and 2010. Drawing on the insights of parents and practitioners, different research methods were used to develop an understanding of what causes disputes in the first place and, when disputes arise, how they may be dealt with most effectively with a view to providing the best possible outcomes for children.
This publication:
● Summarises key aspects of the legislation, including ways of resolving disagreements;
● Sets the ASN legislation within the wider educational and child welfare framework;
● Describes the key principles of parents’ and children’s rights which are reflected in the policy and legislation;
● Explores the underlying principles of good communication between parents and practitioners;
● Discusses parents’ and practitioners’ experiences of different dispute resolution routes (mediation, adjudication, tribunal), and explores how these can be used to resolve difficulties;
● Uses case studies to illustrate what happens when children and young people, parents and practitioners communicate effectively, and what happens when things go wrong;
● Suggests changes which are needed to ensure that the rights of children and young people with additional support needs and their parents are realised in practice.
