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Additional Support Needs (ASN) and Co-ordinated Support Plans in Scotland

How Scotland supports children and young people with additional support needs, including when a Co-ordinated Support Plan applies and how to challenge decisions.

Sample content. This prototype article summarises official UK sources listed at the end of the page. It is information, not legal or medical advice, and what you are entitled to depends on your circumstances.

Jurisdiction
Scotland
Date last checked
12 June 2026
Date last updated
12 June 2026
Next review due
12 December 2026
Article version
1.0
Review status
Review status: Published and checked

Overview

In Scotland, the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, as amended, uses the term additional support needs (ASN). A child or young person has ASN if they need more, or different, support than usual to benefit from school education, for any reason, not only disability.

Most support is provided informally through the school's normal planning, sometimes recorded in a personal plan called things such as a 'child's plan' under the Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) approach.

A smaller number of children with more complex needs, requiring significant help from education and at least one other agency (such as health or social work) on a long-term basis, may have a statutory Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP).

Local authorities must publish information about how they support ASN and how to raise concerns.

Common barriers people describe

  • Confusion between the many types of individual planning documents used in different council areas.
  • Low numbers of children having a Co-ordinated Support Plan compared with the wider ASN population, partly because of the strict statutory tests.
  • Delays in getting other agencies, such as CAMHS or social work, involved in support planning.
  • Families not being told about their right to mediation or to appeal to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland.

Practical support

  • Parents, or young people themselves once past school age, can ask the education authority to establish whether their child has ASN and needs a Co-ordinated Support Plan.
  • Enquire Scotland (the national advice service for additional support for learning) gives free, independent advice and can help with the process.
  • Named Persons and Getting It Right For Every Child planning aim to join up support across education, health and other services for any child who needs it.
  • Advocacy services can support children, young people and parents to have their say in meetings.

Your rights

  • Decisions about Co-ordinated Support Plans, and some other ASN decisions, can be appealed to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland, which is free and independent.
  • Free mediation and independent adjudication services must also be offered by education authorities to help resolve disagreements without going to tribunal.
  • A Co-ordinated Support Plan must be reviewed at least every 12 months.
  • Children and young people with ASN are also protected under the Equality Act 2010 where they meet the disability definition.

Possible benefits and financial support

These are things you may want to check. Nothing here is a decision, and entitlement always depends on your circumstances.

  • Child Disability Payment, delivered by Social Security Scotland, has replaced Disability Living Allowance for children in Scotland and is not dependent on having a CSP.
  • Local authorities must have regard to removing barriers, including transport, for disabled pupils travelling to school.

Workplace adjustments to consider

    Education adjustments to consider

    • Schools should use staged intervention, increasing support gradually before considering whether a Co-ordinated Support Plan is needed.
    • Not every disabled child needs, or is entitled to, a Co-ordinated Support Plan; many are well supported through school-based planning alone.
    • Transitions, such as moving from primary to secondary school or into post-school life, should be specifically planned for children with ASN.

    Getting healthcare that works for you

    • Where a Co-ordinated Support Plan names health provision, the relevant NHS board is expected to work with the education authority to deliver it.

    Related rights topics

    Sources

    Every fact on this page comes from the sources below. Follow the links for the full, official version.

    Update history

    • Version 1.0 — 12 June 2026

      First published sample article covering ASN and Co-ordinated Support Plans in Scotland.

      Approved by: Editorial reviewer (sample)

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