School attendance: a guide for parents

Part 4: Support, information and advice

ParentLine Scotland

At some time all parents find that parenting can be difficult or stressful. ParentLine Scotland is the free, confidential, telephone helpline for anyone caring for a child in Scotland. You can call about any problem, however big or small.
Phone: 0808 800 2222
On line at: http://www.children1st.org.uk/parentline

Parentzone
Parentzone provides information for parents and carers about how you can support your child's education.
On line at: http://www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk

ChildLine
Children and young people can get confidential help about any question, concern or worry.
Phone: 08001111
On line at: http://www.childline.org.uk

Scottish Child Law Centre
The Centre helps children and young people, their families and carers, and professionals working for and with children by providing advice and information through their advice line, email and text services.
Freephone for under 18s: Phone: 0800 328 8970
Phone: 0131 667 6333
Text: text ' SCLC' and your question to 80800
E-mail: enquiries@sclc.org.uk

Govan Law Centre
The centre has a national specialist Law Unit on Education. It provides legal representation in appropriate education law cases to parents or pupils. The Education Law Helpline is available to anyone who has an enquiry about any aspect of education law in Scotland.
You can make an enquiry by phone: 0141 445 1955
Or Email advice@edlaw.org.uk.
The Centre aims to respond to all enquiries by the following working day.
On line at: http://www.edlaw.org.uk/

The Scottish Legal Aid Board
The Board provides a list of lawyers and information about whether you might qualify for legal aid. Legal Aid allows people who would not otherwise be able to afford it to get help for their legal problems. The Financial Assessment Unit can assist with enquiries on eligibility.
Phone: 0131 560 2164
On line at: http://www.slab.org.uk

Citizen Advice Bureau
Your local CAB can provide information and support about rights and responsibilities when it comes to schools and education.
Information and advice on lots of areas at: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk where you can also find your local CAB.
There is information about a range of education issues in Scotland on line at: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland/family_parent/education_scotland.htm

Enquire
Enquire is the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning. It operates a helpline for parents, carers and practitioners. Publications include 'A Parents' Guide to Additional Support for Learning'. An interpreter can be arranged upon request.
Telephone helpline Phone: 0845 123 2303
E-mail: info@enquire.org.uk
On line at: http://www.enquire.org.uk

A Guide For Parents: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004
This is a leaflet which provides information about the new Act. There is more information about co-ordinated support plans. This link also contains web links to the leaflet in community languages.
On line at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/06/19549/39372

RESOLVE : ASL
RESOLVE : ASL is an independent mediation service available in Scotland as an option to resolve conflict throughout additional support needs issues in education.
More information and contact details at: http://www.childreninscotland.org.uk/html/serv_res.htm

Home educated children
There is guidance on this here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/17133313/0

Choosing a school: a guide for parents
This booklet is for parents who are choosing a local authority school for their child. It explains the placing request system.
On line at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/10/27093417/0

Making the Difference
This is a series of leaflets that are about how parents can and do make a difference to their child's learning. Copies are available in English, Gaelic, Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi, Mandarin, Punjabi, Polish and Urdu.
Available on line at: www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk
Phone: 0131 244 0956

There are leaflets about:

• Homework
• Getting involved in your child's school
• Parents' evenings
• School holidays
• Out of school learning
• Starting a new school year
• Sharing information
• Healthy choices
• New technology in learning
• Enterprise in education
• Personal learning planning
• A new law to support parents

Scottish Traveller Education Programme ( STEP)
STEP mainly works with educators of Traveller children and young people in Scotland. STEP helps support developments in education with and for Traveller families.

Phone: 0131 651 6444
Email: step@ed.ac.uk
Online at: http://www.scottishtravellered.net"