FamilyFX: The Family Reset System
Local support in Midlothian

Additional support needs in Midlothian: school and health routes

Midlothian Council provides education support through nurseries, schools and its Inclusion and ASN Team. NHS Lothian is the local health board.

Sources checked 14 August 2026Next review 14 August 2027
An illustrated Midlothian landscape of rolling fields, a winding river, small settlements and the Pentland Hills.
Stylised illustration representing the area's character, not an exact photograph of a landmark or service location.

How support is organised in Midlothian

When a child is struggling in Midlothian, the first useful step is usually a precise conversation with the nursery or school. Describe the barrier, the situations in which it appears and the effect on learning, attendance, communication or wellbeing. Include strengths and strategies that already help.

Ask what the setting can do immediately and what question would justify wider specialist involvement. A referral should have a purpose. Families should be able to understand what is being requested and what support remains in place while they wait.

Midlothian Council is the education authority. Its current information says that additional support services are accessed through the child's nursery or school, with educational psychology and the Inclusion and ASN Team among the wider routes available.

NHS Lothian provides health services across Midlothian, Edinburgh, East Lothian and West Lothian. Health and education teams may work together, but a diagnosis is not the starting condition for school support. Enquire can give independent information about Scotland's additional support for learning system.

FamilyFX local support signals

The local picture in Midlothian

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 Midlothian

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

Midlothian Council

Covers Midlothian

The council provides education support through schools and its Inclusion and ASN Team.

Visit website

NHS Lothian

Covers NHS Lothian area

The health board also covers Edinburgh, East Lothian 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 write down the current support, how often it happens, who is responsible and when it will be reviewed. If the Inclusion and ASN Team or educational psychology is involved, clarify the question being considered and how advice will return to classroom practice.

For health referrals, record the named receiving service and date rather than only noting NHS Lothian. Check appointment location and travel before agreeing a repeated arrangement. If different professionals give overlapping recommendations, ask the school to show how they fit into one workable 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 Midlothian?

If you are part of a charity, parent group, advice service, inclusive activity or another organisation supporting SEND families in Midlothian, 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.