Back in 2005, new legislation – the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 – came into force, placing a duty on councils to meet the needs of all children in Scotland who require additional support to get the most out of their time at school.

The rights of those children and their parents will be further strengthened from today when further legislation – the Additional Support for Learning (Scotland) Act 2009 -comes into force.

While Curriculum for Excellence, being implemented throughout our schools is clearly designed to ensure that all pupils achieve their full potential, this new legislation will provide additional help and support for those children and young people who need support.

Crucially, it will enable those pupils and their parents to make out of the area placing requests to attend specific schools if the support they need is not available in their local area.

It will also give them access to mediation support when submitting and dealing with these requests and increase parents’ access to the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland (ASNTS) if a request is refused. This is important in ensuring that these situations are resolved, quickly and effectively, in the best interests of children.

I believe these are important steps forward in ensuring that children and young people with additional support needs, have those needs fully addressed wherever and however they access their learning.

Adam Ingram Minister for Children & the Early Years