A national independent advisory service for parents of children with special needs is being set up in Scotland. It will be welcomed by families who, until now, have had nowhere to turn for advice on schooling and support services With 32 education authorities across Scotland working towards integration into the mainstream, parents complain that they are not informed about specialist centres outside their areas or about action they can take in disputes with their authorities.
Other initiatives announced by the Scottish Office are an extra pound;2.5 million per year for staff development and training in special needs, an extra pound;3.5m a year to education authorities for speech and language therapists and a pound;2m grant scheme to support the voluntary and non-statutory sectors working with special needs.