FamilyFX: The Family Reset System
Local support in City of Edinburgh

Additional support needs in Edinburgh: making the route clearer

The City of Edinburgh Council is the education authority and NHS Lothian provides health services. The city has several support routes, so begin with the need and the responsible service.

Sources checked 14 August 2026Next review 14 August 2027
An illustrated Edinburgh cityscape of stone terraces, church spires and the castle above the Firth of Forth.
Stylised illustration representing the area's character, not an exact photograph of a landmark or service location.

How support is organised in City of Edinburgh

Edinburgh families can be surrounded by services and still find it difficult to know which one should act. Start with the child's nursery or school and describe the point at which learning, communication, attendance or participation becomes difficult. Ask what can be adjusted within the setting before adding more referrals to the list.

The council publishes information about additional support, disability and neurodiversity, as well as a structured framework for school support. Use those pages to understand the local system, then ask for an individual plan that says what will happen for this child.

The City of Edinburgh Council is responsible for education. Its school framework describes support provided in class, within school, with partner agencies and through specialist classes or schools. A child may move between these levels of involvement as needs and circumstances change.

NHS Lothian provides health services across Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian. A regional health pathway does not replace the school's duty to consider barriers to learning. Enquire offers independent advice about additional support for learning and Scottish education rights.

FamilyFX local support signals

The local picture in City of Edinburgh

This section maps the current health bodies serving this area and, where a comparable official measure is available, presents it alongside the national figure. It is not a rating of the area or the quality of an individual service.

Health

NHS boards for City of Edinburgh

Territorial NHS boards plan and provide many local health services in Scotland. A particular assessment or treatment may be delivered by another team or through a regional pathway.

NHS LothianCovers NHS Lothian areaVisit NHS board website

Urgent help

Urgent mental health help in Scotland

NHS inform guidance for urgent mental health support. Call 999 if life is at immediate risk.

Visit Urgent mental health help in Scotland

Local organisations and advice

The City of Edinburgh Council

Covers City of Edinburgh

The council is responsible for education and local additional support decisions.

Visit website

NHS Lothian

Covers NHS Lothian area

The health board also covers East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian.

Visit website

Enquire

Covers Scotland

Independent national advice about additional support for learning and education rights.

Visit website

NHS inform

Covers Scotland

Use current NHS inform guidance for urgent mental health help; call 999 if life is at immediate risk.

Visit website

Services and local pathways

Additional support for learning guidance

Scottish Government additional support for learning

Official Scottish Government guidance about additional support for learning.

Who it is for: Children and young people in Scotland who need extra help to benefit from education.

How to access it: Raise the concern with the nursery, school or education authority and use the official guidance to understand the framework.

Check current details

Enquire advice for families

Enquire

Independent advice for parents, carers, children and young people.

Who it is for: Parents, carers, children and young people in Scotland, as well as people supporting them.

How to access it: Read the guidance online or contact Enquire for advice about a specific education question.

Check current details

Practical next steps

Ask the school to identify the current pathway or level of support, then translate it into actions, frequency, responsibility and a review date. If several city or voluntary services are suggested, check which one is expected to assess, which one offers practical help and whether a referral is actually required.

Keep health and education processes moving alongside each other. Record the NHS service that received a referral and the council or school contact responsible for education. When appointments cross the city, include travel, transition between environments and the child's recovery time in the plan.

Related FamilyFX help

Library articleSchool Support Scotland Wales Northern IrelandUse the correct Scottish education framework and terminology.Library articleSend Rights Scotland Wales Northern IrelandUnderstand how rights and formal plans differ across the UK.Library articleKeeping A Record For School And Gp MeetingsBuild a concise record for education and health conversations.
Help us strengthen this directory

Do you support SEND families in City of Edinburgh?

If you are part of a charity, parent group, advice service, inclusive activity or another organisation supporting SEND families in City of Edinburgh, we would like to hear from you. Send us your website, the area you cover, who the service is for and how families can get in touch. We check submissions before deciding whether to add them.

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Sources and checking dates

Local services change. We check the sources below and review any substantive change before altering the page.