Inclusion Ambassadors - Children in Scotland
The Inclusion Ambassadors are a group of secondary-aged pupils who have a range of additional support needs and attend a variety of educational provision across Scotland. It is an ongoing project, with members joining the group for two years (or more if they are keen to stay involved). Children in Scotland have been delivering the project with the support of Reach since 2018.
At present there are around 20 members of the group from across 16 local authorities. The group are encouraged to speak freely and openly, sharing their experiences of being a pupil with additional support needs in Scotland, including what works and what could make things better. They share their experiences of being a young person with additional support needs in Scotland through online and in-person meetings. Each meeting focuses on topics or issues that are important to the group. Where relevant we also engage with national stakeholders to ensure they can hear directly from the group.
Ultimately, the project aims to ensure that the views of children and young people inform national policy making relating to education and additional support for learning, as well as ensuring that their experiences can inform practice through a range of resources.
How young people were involved
The members of the group are central to all aspects of the project. Their views directly inform the pieces of work taken forward and are central to the development of a work plan for the group.
A key aspect of this is through their Vision Statement for Additional Support for Learning. Not only does the vision statement sit at the centre of the Scottish Government’s additional support for learning action plan, it also is key to identifying areas of work. For example, the Success Looks Different Awards were built out of the fact that the group were keen that Scottish Education reflects that ‘success looks different for everyone’.
The Vision Statement supports us to work with the group to identify areas of work that are relevant to them such as exams and assessments or what support children and young people accessing additional support need in school. This acts as a way of ensuring work with interested decision makers is driven by what is important to the group, not solely by what policy makers wish to discuss. Within this, members of the group then regularly choose which topics are particularly relevant to them and can take this forward with support from staff. This may mean elements of small group work, such as working on podcasts relating to pupil support staff that were developed in 2022.
The group are also involved in the development of resources that are created to share their views. They have the opportunity to comment as resources developed and to sign these off. This ensures the resources reflect their views and that they are accessible for children and young people.
Another key example of where young people have been involved in decision-making about the group is through choosing the winners of the Success Looks Different awards. Members of the group came up with success criteria for applications and then decided winners and runners up for each of the 3 categories based on these.
How young people have influenced decision-makers through the ambassadors
The project does not have specific final outcomes as it is an ongoing process where we regularly produce new resources, reports or outputs.
Key areas where the groups views have informed decision making are:
The Independent Review of Additional Support for Learning, led by Angela Morgan. The group are explicitly referenced throughout the review an informed its recommendations. These recommendations have subsequently fed into the development of the Scottish Government’s Additional Support for Learning Action Plan
The groups Vision Statement for Additional Support for Learning (mentioned above) is now central to Scottish Government policy relating to additional support for learning. The importance of this was reflected within the recent Progress Update on the Additional Support for Learning Action Plan
Through the project the group have explicitly fed into a wide range of other education policy related issues including:
The Scottish Government’s new National Strategy on Transitions to Adulthood
In addition we have co-produced a wide range of resources for practitioners which are freely available to access including:
Through the wider Inclusion Ambassadors project work, their views have also helped inform the development of a new Inclusion Ambassadors group in Perth and Kinross delivered through Perth and Kinross Council.
What young people said
“A voice to talk about our experiences and to benefit people in the future” - Inclusion Ambassadors
“I had a terrible time in school and wanted to change things” - Inclusion Ambassador
“I Enjoy coming – ‘I like getting my say, I need to be heard” - Inclusion Ambassador
“Makes you believe in yourself, I used to not speak’ but now I am more confident” - Inclusion Ambassador
'A big thing is having the ability to talk to people about issues. Before, I was bottling things up but now I feel more comfortable.' - Inclusion Ambassador
'When I knew I was joining the Inclusion Ambassadors, I felt nervous and excited but now I just love it because it’s very fun' - Inclusion Ambassador
'I find everything really fun and exciting. Every time I find out there’s a meeting I always feel very happy and excited because I love coming to meetings and seeing everyone. ' - Inclusion Ambassador
Contact info to find out more:
For more information please contact Chris Ross, Senior Policy, Projects and Participation Officer, cross@childreninscotland.org.uk
