Neurodiversity

Neurodevelopmental differences

The term neurodiversity usually refers to range of developmental differences including:

• Autism

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) also referred to as Dyspraxia

• Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)

• Epilepsy

• Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

• Intellectual Disability

• Tourette's and Tic disorders

• Specific Learning Disorder/ Differences e.g. Dyslexia, Dyscalculia.

It is normal practice for learning differences such as Dyslexia and Dyscalculia to be identified through a non-medical pathway.

The term neurodiversity is increasingly being used in the workplace, education and beyond. It is rare that a child or adult would have only one area of difficulty. Co-occurrence of learning differences appears to be the rule rather than the exception.

Needs not labels

Support must focus on need not a label. The vast majority of children and young people in Scotland are supported in the Universal level of the Staged Level of Intervention. Using a universal design approach enables the development of learning and teaching which is accessible for all learners.

According to the The Additional Support for Learning (ASL) Act , support must focus on need. It is not dependent on a label or diagnosis.

Further Professional Learning

If you are interested in learning more about specific aspects of neurodiversity, Education Scotland has created a series of Professional Learning Activities:

1. Understanding Autism and Supporting Learners

2. Understanding ADHD and Supporting Learners

3. Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Supporting Learners

4. Understanding Learning/Intellectual Disability and Supporting Learners

E-learning modules

A suite of free e-learning modules from Education Scotland are also available:

Introduction to Autism and Inclusive Practice (Open University)

3 incremental modules on Dyslexia and Inclusive Practice (Open University)

Aberdeenshire Educational Psychology Service

The Educational Psychology Service has collated a range of resources to support pupils with ADHD in the classroom, as well as documents that can be downloaded and shared with children, young people and parents/carers.

The resources have been organised within an easy-to-navigate padlet, which can be accessed via the following link: Aberdeenshire Educational Psychology Service: ADHD Resources 

Allergy / EpiPen Training

A reminder to all staff that school nurses are no longer providing allergy / EpiPen training.

There was a review of the allergy training provided by school nurses last year and it has been agreed within NHS Grampian the video presentation linked to below will be used moving forward.  The YouTube video provides all the information that would have been shared at the in-person training sessions previously provided by school nurse teams.

The benefit of this is that it is readily available for any new staff members or any current staff requiring an update/ refresher and education colleagues are not reliant on school nurses being available to visit schools.  If staff have any questions following viewing the presentation, these can be directed to the school nurse team.

The allergy team have provided Katrina Alexander (Nina), School Nurse with the Garioch School Nursing Team for

Kemnay Academy and Cluster Primaries with new Epipen training pens which she will be distributing to the primaries.  Schools will need to consider keeping a record of their staff who have completed the training/update and ensuring they are completing a refresher annually.

To this end, all staff should watch the video link below and read through the guidance in the second link. Once you have done so, please email / inform Depute Head Colin Hutchison that you have completed your training.

Any questions, please get in touch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl3fKO3sDUk

https://www.epipen.co.uk/en-GB/patients/your-epipen/how-to-use-your-epipen