Education Support Services - Statutory Support Services
It is recognised that the needs of the majority of West Lothian's children and young people will be met as a result of the delivery of high quality teaching and learning through the Curriculum for Excellence.
For those children and young people who require additional support in order to fulfil their learning potential, a Continuum of Support framework is in place in West Lothian to ensure that their needs are understood and supported effectively. Education Services Continuum of Support (PDF, 486 KB)(opens new window)
As detailed in the 'Presumption to provide education in a mainstream setting' guidance from the Scottish Government, the educational needs of the majority of pupils with additional support needs can be met within a mainstream setting.
All West Lothian parents are asked to engage in the first instance with their catchment mainstream school. Should additional planning or consideration of special placement be required the school will facilitate a child's planning meeting to support the completion of an Assessment of Wellbeing.
This meeting will be attended by appropriate professionals (e.g. Educational Psychologist, and/or health professionals) to ensure assessment can be undertaken if the child reaches the threshold for consideration of specialist placement as per the continuum of support. Scottish Government Publication_Guidance_Presumption to Provide Education in a Mainstream Setting (opens new window)
By adopting a structured framework, the council in conjunction with partnership input will identify and asses the level of support and subsequent specialist placement deemed appropriate.
As part of the child planning process requirements for the child/young person will be reviewed at key points of transition i.e. ELC through to Primary education, Primary through to Secondary provision, Secondary Broad General Education (BGE) through to Secondary Senior Phase and Senior Phase education to post school pursuits. This robust assessment pathway is categorised as follows: Pathways to Support Specialist Learning_Education Support Services_August 2023 (PDF, 110 KB)(opens new window)
Aim of CAST Sessions:
robust and collaborative approach;
input from senior leaders from Primary Schools and Secondary Schools;
link Educational Psychologist involvement;
Education Support Services involvement;
sharing models of support;
make informed decisions; and
strategic planning
Please Note - Outcome of applications for additional support needs pupil placement will be made within the last week of April each year.
A CSP is an education plan prepared by local authorities for certain children, and young people (school pupils aged 16 - 18 years), who have additional support needs.
The Plan outlines:
the child's additional support need
educational objectives that have been set for them to achieve
the support they need to meet these objectives
A CSP is for those children and young people who have complex needs and require a substantial level of support from other agencies (e.g. Health or Social Policy), to help meet their educational objectives. These children may require a CSP to ensure that their support for learning is co-ordinated across all agencies. Guidance on CSPs is detailed within Education Services Continuum of Support (PDF, 486 KB)(opens new window)
Find out more about home education in West Lothian:
Consent is not needed if:
- Your child has never attended a local authority school;
- Your child has never attended a West Lothian Council school;
- You are withdrawing your child from an independent school;
- Your child has finished P7 but has not started S1; or
- The school your child has been attending has closed permanently.
- providing learning activities based on the child's interests, needs and aspirations;
- providing this education themselves or through distance/online learning or tutors;
- ensuring access to appropriate resources, learning materials and educational experiences; and
- providing opportunities for social interaction with other children and adults.
1) You need to determine if consent is required to withdraw your child from school (see above).
2) If consent is required, email your request and proposed home education plan to;
HomeEducation@westlothian.gov.uk
or in writing to:
West Lothian Council
Home Education
Education Services
Home Education
West Lothian Civic Centre
Howden South Road
Livingston
EH54 6FF
You may find the Initial Education Proposal template useful in considering how you will provide your child with a suitable and efficient education. WLC Home Education and Flexi Schooling Form (Sept 2025) (Word doc, 54 KB)(opens new window)
3) West Lothian Education Services will acknowledge your request within 5 working days (this may vary during periods of school holidays) and:
- offer you (and your child, if you feel this is appropriate) a meeting with Education Services officers to discuss your proposal and offer advice and support; and
- ask your child's school and partner agencies (i.e. Education Services Child Protection Officer and Social Policy) if there is any existing evidence which indicates that there may be good reason to refuse consent.
4) Education Services will consider all relevant information and:
- grant consent as soon as possible;
- withold consent;
Specific instances where consent to withdraw a child from school may not be able to be granted immediately are:
- where a child has been referred to Social Work, Police or Health for child protection reasons, and the matter is being investigated;
- where a child is subject to a Child Protection Planning Meeting, has and Interim Safety Plan or a Child Protection Plan;
- where a child is subject to an Interim Compulsory Supervision Order, a Compulsory Supervision Order or a Child Protection Order;
- where there is a history of domestic abuse in the family home;
- where a child is on the Child Protection Register; or
- where a child has been referred to the Children's Reporter on care and protection grounds, whether welfare or offence based, and the referral is being considered.
Consideration will also be given as to whether the above applies to any of the child's siblings or other children living in the home. If the child is subject to any of the above, consideration will be given to holding a multi-agency meeting to discuss the request to home educate, and how this may be supported as part of the child's care plan.
HomeEducation@westlothian.gov.uk (opens new window)
www.scothomeed.co.uk (opens new window) https://www.mygov.scot/learning-home-education (opens new window) https://www.parentclub.scot/articles/home-education (opens new window) https://enquire.org.uk/parents/choosing-school/home-education/ (opens new window) https://www.gov.scot/publications/home-education-guidance-2/ (opens new window)
- Improving wellbeing, inclusion and attendance for all children and young people, promoting confidence, independent thinking and resilience. Fundamental to this is working with families and partners to support the highest possible levels of engagement.
- Ensuring every child and young person experiences varied, vibrant and challenging learning experiences which are built on the provision of exceptional learning, teaching and assessment. Fundamental to this is the design and implementation of a curriculum that creates the conditions, culture and ethos for ALL 4 capacities to thrive and be equally valued.
