Pupils with special needs: a Scottish perspective

The distinction between ordinary and special schooling in Scotland was effectively erased by the Education (Scotland) Act of 1981. This Act recognizes that any pupil who requires extra support to succeed in a regular classroom is a child who has special education needs. Presently, all pupils who, for whatever reason, do not cope successfully at school are collectively referred to as children with learning difficulties. The term "learning difficulties" reflects a broader spectrum of problems than those characteristically found in the category of learning disabilities used in the United States. In cases of dyslexia, the term "specific learning difficulties" (a subgroup of learning difficulties) is also used. All special education provision in based on individual needs. A child's needs are interpreted in relation to a continuum of special education needs and in the context of his or her unique environment. For pupils with learning difficulties, the needs-assessment process is typically informal and rarely results in an official record of need being opened for them. A description of Grampian Region, one of the largest administrative units in northern Scotland, reveals how special educational practice is organized to respond to pupils with learning difficulties in the current educational climate.