What the ASL? The Enquire Podcast

Financial Support and ASL - with Family Fund

We are joined by Salena Begley MBE from the charity Family Fund, who talks to us about how the work they do to support families on a low income raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person in Scotland. This episode covers: * Challenges to financial wellbeing facing families of disabled or seriously ill children, including unavoidable additional costs related to disability or ill-health * The inadequacy of social security * How the Cost of Caring report - research from Family Fund into the additional costs for families and the impact on health and wellbeing - could be used to inform policy development * The interplay between schools meeting a child’s needs and the impact on employment, and in turn, financial wellbeing * How schools, and other professionals, can provide access to support in a non-stigmatising way, including signposting to Family Fund Salena Begley MBE is Partnership Engagement Manager (Scotland) for Family Fund. She was awarded an MBE in 2017, for services to Child Welfare. Family Fund is the UK’s largest grant-making charity for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person. Their Scotland programme, provides grants and support to families in Scotland, assisting with a range of items such as clothing, furniture, sensory toys and digital devices, to family breaks and days out. Find out more at: https://www.familyfund.org.uk/grants/schemes/scotland-core-programme/ [https://www.familyfund.org.uk/grants/schemes/scotland-core-programme/] Enquire provides a range of advice and information for parents and carers of children and young people with additional support needs relating to additional support for learning, from the age when they are eligible for funded childcare to when they leave school. Visit: https://enquire.org.uk/ [https://enquire.org.uk/]

ASL and Technology - with CALL Scotland

We are joined by Paul Nisbet who talks to us about the benefits and potential of technology to support learners with additional support needs. This episode covers: * The different types of technology available to aid with alternative and augmented communication * Who is responsible for providing technology to facilitate learning and communication * Assessing need using the SETT framework (Student, Environment, Task, Tool) * Accessibility, access and inclusion * Exploring opportunities with existing technology and the right support, including how to use assistive technology in the mainstream Paul Nisbet is the former Director of CALL Scotland, based at Moray House, University of Edinburgh. CALL Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government to provide help to anyone who would benefit from using technology, providing a range of information and resources, including devices. CALL Scotland also works with a number of local authorities across Scotland. Visit the CALL Scotland website: https://www.callscotland.org.uk/ [https://www.callscotland.org.uk/]   Visit the Enquire website for more information and advice about support in school and additional support for learning: https://enquire.org.uk/ [https://enquire.org.uk/]

Support Planning

In this episode, Ellenor and Mark from the Enquire helpline chat about support planning at school. They discuss when support for learning might be needed and what this should look like.  They also cover: * When individualised support and formal planning may be needed * The different plans that might be used * What a Co-ordinated Support Plan is and who may be eligible for one * How schools or local authorities decide what type of plan a child needs * Routes to explore if you feel your child should be on a formal support plan but the school disagree * Reviewing support plans. Find out more: Different stages of support planning - enquire.org.uk/parents/getting-support/how-support-is-planned [https://enquire.org.uk/parents/getting-support/how-support-is-planned] Co-ordinated Support Plans - enquire.org.uk/parents/getting-support/co-ordinated-support-plans-overview [https://enquire.org.uk/parents/getting-support/co-ordinated-support-plans-overview/]

Supporting Young Carers in School - with Carers Trust Scotland

We are joined by Kelly Munro from Carers Trust Scotland. She talks to us about what being a young carer means, tackling stigma and making school a safe, supportive space. Kelly is the Education Officer (Primary and Secondary) (Scotland) with the Carers Trust, a national organisation working to increase awareness and improve support for young carers. This episode covers: * Recognising what makes someone a young carer * Addressing and tackling stigma around being a young carer, or the circumstances that lead to caring responsibilities * Young carers and the law, specifically The Carers Act 2018 * Connecting with peers at the Scottish Young Carers Festival * Caring responsibilities being recognised as an additional support need * Building positive relationships, including nominating a Young Carers Champion in school Find out more: Carers Trust Scotland - carers.org/our-work-in-scotland [https://carers.org/our-work-in-scotland/our-work-in-scotland] Enquire - enquire.org.uk [https://enquire.org.uk/]

Children's Rights - with My Rights, My Say

In this episode, we find out more about the My Rights, My Say service. My Rights, My Say is a partnership service, delivered by Enquire, Children in Scotland, Partners in Advocacy and Cairn Legal. It works to support young people aged 12-15 with additional support needs to be involved, engaged and supported in their education. Lucy and Susies chat about how the My Rights, My Say service works, how it has evolved over the years and how it has helped children and young people with additional support needs share their views and have their voices heard.   Find out more: Enquire - enquire.org.uk [https://www.enquire.org.uk] My Rights, My Say - myrightsmysay.scot [https://www.myrightsmysay.scot] Partners in Advocacy - pia.scot [https://www.pia.scot] Children in Scotland Children's Views Service - childreninscotland.org.uk/my-rights-my-say [https://childreninscotland.org.uk/my-rights-my-say/] Cairn Legal - cairnlegal.co.uk [https://www.cairnlegal.co.uk]