Take Note Advocacy Service

The 2009 update of the Education (Additional Support for Learning Act) (Scotland) 2004 Act  introduced a new legal duty on the Scottish Government to provide an advocacy service to parents and young people following a reference being made to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland (ASNTS). Parents and young people often require help to lodge a reference, and to make informed decisions about the way forward. Therefore Take Note is available to parents and young people (aged 16 or 17) from the time they have grounds to make a referral to the ASNTS.

The Take Note’ National Advocacy Service for Additional Support Needs is a partnership between Barnardo’s Scotland and the Scottish Child Law Centre. The service aims to:

• advocate on behalf of parents or young people throughout the ASNTS process
• empower young people and parents to fully participate in the process of making a reference to the ASNST. We also aim to ensure that children’s views are heard and represented where appropriate
• enable parents and young people to seek informal resolution with local authorities/schools to resolve disagreements
• where appropriate, provide legal advocacy at the ASNTS
• work closely with other agencies operating within the remit of additional support needs in Scotland.

Take Note is directed by the needs and views of parents and young people and we are accountable to them. The service promotes and protects their rights throughout all stages of service delivery.