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Aims
SSLA offers a support network for
members, and advice and support to individuals, organisations, government and
the media. The aims at both national and local level are: to promote and support
the education of children and other learners by:-
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exchanging ideas, disseminating
information, and discussing developments in support for learning
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promoting, encouraging and
undertaking research relevant to the aims of the Association
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establishing and maintaining
relations with individuals and other bodies having similar aims
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playing a full part in the
development of Scottish Education.
History
It was established in 1973 and has
its roots in the older "Scottish Association of Teachers of Backward Pupils in
Secondary Schools". The Association's first independent conference in October
1973, in Stirling University, on the topic of "Remedial Education" concluded….
"there are many children in our present school system who are in need. The
task facing us is to find ways of positively identifying such children,
assessing as precisely as possible the nature of their needs - specifically
educational or widely social - and providing the appropriate educational
provision."
The challenges of "children in need" and "appropriate provision" are still our
main concerns into this century.
Membership
Now the Association has members from
all sectors: from pre-school to adult; from all specialisms; and from all
agencies, health, education, community, and voluntary. Members are to be found
across mainland Scotland as well as in the Northern and Western Isles.
As well as individual and corporate members SSLA has growing membership links
with organisations such as the Educational Institute of Scotland, The Scottish
Dyslexia Association, the Scottish Network for Able Pupils and the Dyspraxia
Foundation.
We continue to build stronger links with Local Authorities and organisation such
as Barnardo's, Children in Scotland, the Scottish Co-operative Education Centre
and the Enterprise companies. We have had a long standing relationship with the
Tamworth based National Association for Special Educational Needs.
There are bonds with overseas groups such as the Learning Support Associations
in Ireland and Finland and it is our aim to build stronger European links.
Membership services and conferences
For members, the Association produces regular newsletters, the SSLA Journal and
other occasional publications such as conference reports and GIFTS (good ideas
for teachers). SSLA runs two national conferences each year. In these, we try to
respond to issues raised by the membership and current themes in Scottish
Education, which impinge on ASN.
Through sponsorship, good housekeeping and sheer brass neck we continue to keep
the costs of these events to a minimum - well below that of other similar events
- in order to give access to as many members as possible. However, even our low
cost events – now half day – have not been as well attended of late and so in
Autumn 2011 we offered a free conference which was hugely over-subscribed
proving to us that the will is there but the finances from Local Authorities is
unfortunately not. We welcome ideas on how to tackle this current problem.
National influence
At national level SSLA now has a "seat at the table", helping to advise the
Scottish Executive, and is keen to be a voice for those who support learning and
an advocate for those who need high levels of support. We respond to many
consultation documents and welcome members' comments. Meanwhile we continue to
strive to the best of our ability to create for all ages and abilities, the best
possible conditions for learning.
SSLA is a charity registered in
Scotland.
For further information please
contact
Sheena Richardson
11 Mayshade Road
Loanhead
EH20 9HJ
or email
info@ssla.org.uk
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