Specialist ASN Provision

Pupils are offered places in this provision through the ASN placement process, managed by Inclusion Services, which seeks to identify the most appropriate placements for children and young people with additional support needs in South Lanarkshire.

This provision has evolved from the 2 separate provisions that were based in the school;

• The Communication Development Unit – Hamilton Grammar’s CDU was established in 2002 to help pupils with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder access the academic and social life of a mainstream secondary
• The ASN Department - Hamilton Grammar’s Additional Support Needs Department opened in August 2009 to provide an appropriate curriculum for pupils who require extra support with their learning and social skills.

The whole specialist provision, combining both of the above, is now known as the ASN Department. It provides a supportive, structured learning environment giving access to a broad and balanced curriculum, but with emphasis on addressing the particular educational and social implications of each child’s additional support needs.

A variety of approaches are used in the ASN provision, but, in general, pupils will be taught in small classes (maximum 10 pupils). Children who are able to will access parts of the mainstream curriculum in Hamilton Grammar, where this would be beneficial to their learning and social inclusion. This takes place with appropriate support. Regular review meetings for all pupils will help to identify these opportunities and monitor their progress. The pupils also have access to all whole school activities and opportunities where appropriate, including extra-curricular events, the School House System and Merit Award schemes.

The provision is lead and managed by a Depute Head Teacher (Mr J Mackay) alongside a Principal Teacher who is head of the Integrated Support Team (Mrs C Walker). The provision works closely with other agencies, including Physiotherapists, Educational Psychologists, and Speech and Language Therapists, where their involvement would improve a young person’s ability to access opportunities in school and beyond.

Our pathways support pupils with a range of barriers to learning who may benefit from being taught in a different environment, or with a higher level of support, than their mainstream peers. Pupils in ASN classes will follow a similar curriculum to their wider school peers but at a more appropriate pace, with greater opportunities for reinforcement of important skills.

This is maintained until they reach the Senior Phase, beginning in S4 - at this point they will start to work towards SQA qualifications. Most pupils follow a core curriculum, including English, Maths, Science, ICT, Spanish and Drama, alongside a number of option choices.

For some pupils the core curriculum will be reduced in order for them to access more subjects in the wider school.

Some pupils may join classes with their wider school peers with support where appropriate to allow them to do so. These supports may include support in class and a link teacher to help with organising their learning. Pupils may also benefit from a less crowded curriculum, particularly when they enter the Senior Phase in S4.