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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:-
- exchanging
ideas, disseminating information, and discussing developments in
support for learning
- promoting,
encouraging and undertaking research relevant to the aims of the
Association
- establishing
and maintaining relations with individuals and other bodies having
similar aims
- 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.
SSLA branches
Whilst SSLA is a
national organisation it depends heavily on local groups and branches to
increase membership, run meetings and meet our aims at local level. Each
branch has a place on the national committee thus maintaining contact
between the central organisation and the branch committee.
Each year we want to enhance this relationship for the benefit of all
our members and we are working towards an active group of members in
every council area. Thus we can best respond to local need and work with
local councils.
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 as well as local meetings on a range of contemporary topics. For
example, local meetings have included "Able Pupils" in Inverness,
"Bereavement Counselling" in Edinburgh, "Chronic Illness" in Kirkwall
and "Down's Syndrome" in Ayr.
The national residential conference, in November 2000, was a memorable
event over two and a half days in Peterhead. Under the title "A Breath
of Fresh Air", the topic was "Promoting Educational Inclusion Through
Co-operation, Community and Culture". It involved Paul Ginnis and four
members from Dynamix and covered a very wide range of aspects from "peer
mentoring" to "parachute games" and from "co-operative learning" to
"consultation strategies".
Our national conference, with leading Scottish experts from pupils to
professors on Saturday 28th April 2001, was on "Alternatives to
Exclusion" and was attended by delegates from almost every council area
in Scotland.
Our last residential conference, "All Together" - this time in Lockerbie
- was again co-operative and cross-sector but also cross border. 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.
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
Ann
Paterson
4 Elm Drive
Blairgowrie
PH10 6TY
or email
info@ssla.org.uk
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