Additional support needs in East Renfrewshire: finding the right route
East Renfrewshire Council publishes support information for children with additional needs. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is the local health board.
How support is organised in East Renfrewshire
A child does not have to fit a single category before a school can respond to a barrier. In East Renfrewshire, begin with a clear account of what is happening, where it happens and how it affects learning, communication, attendance or wellbeing.
Ask the nursery or school what can change within the current setting and when the response will be reviewed. If specialist provision is mentioned, keep the discussion anchored to the needs that cannot presently be met and the evidence that will inform any decision.
East Renfrewshire Council is the education authority. Its current children-with-additional-support-needs page explains local education routes and links families to relevant council information. The school can identify which education team or planning process is appropriate.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde covers East Renfrewshire as well as Glasgow City, East and West Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde and Renfrewshire. A shared NHS boundary does not combine those councils' education responsibilities. Enquire provides independent national advice about additional support for learning.
The local picture in East Renfrewshire
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 East Renfrewshire
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.
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 ScotlandLocal organisations and advice
East Renfrewshire Council
Covers East Renfrewshire
The council publishes information for children with additional support needs.
Visit websiteNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Covers NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area
The board provides health services across six council areas.
Visit websiteEnquire
Covers Scotland
Independent national advice about additional support for learning and education rights.
Visit websiteNHS inform
Covers Scotland
Use current NHS inform guidance for urgent mental health help; call 999 if life is at immediate risk.
Visit websiteServices 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 detailsEnquire 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 detailsPractical next steps
Ask for a written plan that describes support in observable terms: who will do what, how often, in which situations and with what intended result. If a wider assessment is proposed, ask what question it needs to answer and what support remains available before it is completed.
For health referrals, record the receiving service and date. For education, keep the named school or council contact visible. If the child uses services outside the council area, confirm whether access is based on home address, school, GP or the provider's catchment.
Related FamilyFX help
Do you support SEND families in East Renfrewshire?
If you are part of a charity, parent group, advice service, inclusive activity or another organisation supporting SEND families in East Renfrewshire, 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.
Send us your detailsSources and checking dates
Local services change. We check the sources below and review any substantive change before altering the page.
- East Renfrewshire Council, checked 14 August 2026
- Enquire: advice for parents and carers, checked 14 August 2026
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, checked 14 August 2026
- NHS inform: urgent mental health help, checked 14 August 2026
- Scottish Government: additional support for learning, checked 14 August 2026