Coordinated Support Plans in Scotland: A Parent's Rights Guide

If your child has complex additional support needs in Scotland, a Coordinated Support Plan (CSP) is the strongest legal protection available. It is Scotland’s equivalent of England’s EHCP — a statutory document that forces the local authority to deliver what it promises. Yet fewer than 5,000 children in the whole of Scotland have one. Many families who could request a CSP have never heard of it.

This guide explains what a CSP is, who qualifies, how to get one, and what to do if the council says no.

What a CSP is

A CSP is a legally binding plan created under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (amended 2009). It applies to children and young people whose additional support needs meet two tests:

1. The needs are complex or multiple — arising from one or more factors (disability, health condition, social or family circumstances, or any combination).
2. Significant support is required from at least one agency outside education — typically NHS health services or social work, but it can include any external body.

The needs must also be enduring — meaning they are likely to last more than a year.

What a CSP contains

A CSP must set out:

• The learning objectives for the child
• The additional support required to achieve those objectives
• Which agencies are responsible for providing each element of support
• The named contact within the local authority who coordinates the plan
• Review dates — at least once every 12 months

Because it is statutory, the local authority has a legal duty to provide every element of support listed in the plan. This is what separates a CSP from a Child’s Plan or an IEP — those documents are good practice, but they are not enforceable in the same way.

CSP vs Child’s Plan vs IEP

How to request a CSP

Any parent (or young person aged 16 or over) can request a CSP. You do not need a solicitor, a diagnosis, or the school’s agreement.

1. 1

   Write to the local authority

   Send a letter or email to your council's Additional Support Needs team. State that you are requesting an assessment of whether your child requires a Coordinated Support Plan under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004. Include your child's name, date of birth, school and a brief summary of their needs and the agencies already involved.
2. 2

   The council has 16 weeks to respond

   From the date it receives your request, the local authority has 16 weeks to decide whether your child meets the CSP threshold. During this period it should gather information from the school, any involved professionals and you.
3. 3

   You will receive a decision in writing

   The council must tell you whether it will open a CSP. If it refuses, it must give reasons and explain your right to appeal.
4. 4

   If a CSP is opened, you are involved in drafting it

   The council must consult you on the content of the plan — the objectives, the support, the agencies. You can bring an advocate or supporter to any meetings.
5. 5

   The plan is reviewed at least annually

   You have the right to attend and contribute to every review. You can also request an additional review at any time if circumstances change.

What to do if the council refuses

Councils refuse CSP requests more often than they should. If you believe your child meets the threshold and the council disagrees, you have clear legal rights.

1. 1

   Ask for the written reasons

   The council must explain why your child does not meet the CSP criteria. Read the reasons carefully — they often reveal gaps in the council's understanding of your child's needs.
2. 2

   Try mediation first

   Contact Enquire (0345 123 2303) to arrange free, independent mediation. This is informal and can resolve disagreements without going to tribunal.
3. 3

   Appeal to the ASN Tribunal

   If mediation does not resolve things, you can make a reference to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland (ASNTS). This is free, you can represent yourself, and Let's Talk ASN (Govan Law Centre) offers free legal advice for tribunal cases. You can challenge a refusal to open a CSP, the content of an existing CSP, or a decision to discontinue one.

The Tribunal is independent of the council and regularly overturns decisions. There is no fee, no risk of costs being awarded against you, and cases are typically heard within four to six months.

The annual review

Once a CSP is in place, the local authority must review it at least once every 12 months. At the review:

• Progress against the learning objectives is assessed
• Support provision is checked — is it actually being delivered?
• Objectives and support are updated if the child’s needs have changed
• You have the right to attend and to bring a supporter or advocate

You can also request an additional review at any time if your child’s circumstances change significantly — for example, a change in health, a school transition, or a breakdown in support.

CSP vs EHCP — for families moving between Scotland and England

If you are relocating from England with an EHCP, or from Scotland to England with a CSP, the plans do not transfer automatically. They are separate legal instruments under different legislation.

Moving from England to Scotland:

• The Scottish council will treat the EHCP as strong evidence of need
• Your child will be assessed under the ASL Act 2004
• Most children with EHCPs end up with a Child’s Plan; some meet the CSP threshold
• There may be differences in the specific support offered

Moving from Scotland to England:

• The English council will assess your child under the Children and Families Act 2014
• A CSP is evidence of need but does not automatically become an EHCP
• You will need to go through the EHC needs assessment process

In either direction, contact the receiving council’s additional support needs team as early as possible — ideally before you move.

The numbers problem

Fewer than 5,000 children in Scotland have a CSP. That is a remarkably low number when you consider that over 230,000 pupils are recorded as having additional support needs. Even accounting for the higher threshold, the figures suggest many children who should have a CSP do not.

The reasons are systemic:

• Many parents have never heard of a CSP and do not know they can request one
• Some councils actively discourage CSP requests because of the legal duties they create
• Child’s Plans are offered as a “good enough” alternative — but they lack the legal teeth
• The process is slow (16 weeks) and can feel daunting without support

If your child receives significant support from health, social work or another agency alongside school, it is worth asking the question: should they have a CSP?

Why so few families have one

The CSP is a powerful document — arguably the most important legal protection a child with complex needs has in Scottish education. The problem is that hardly anyone has one. Councils have little incentive to open CSPs because they create binding obligations, and many parents never discover they exist. If your child’s needs genuinely require coordinated support from outside education, do not settle for a Child’s Plan alone. A Child’s Plan is better than nothing, but it cannot be enforced. A CSP can. The single most important thing you can do is call Enquire (0345 123 2303) and ask whether your child’s situation meets the threshold. They will tell you honestly — and if it does, they will help you make the request.

Next steps

1. Read our ASN overview to understand the full framework your child’s support sits within
2. Call Enquire (0345 123 2303) — free, independent advice on whether a CSP is right for your child
3. Write to your council’s ASN team if you believe your child qualifies — the 16-week clock starts when they receive your letter
4. Contact Let’s Talk ASN (Govan Law Centre) if you need free legal advice on a tribunal reference
5. Keep records of every meeting, email and phone call — if things go to tribunal, your paper trail is your strongest asset