FamilyFX: The Family Reset System
Local support in Renfrewshire

Additional support needs in Renfrewshire: what to ask for next

Renfrewshire Council explains how additional support is identified and requested in schools and nurseries. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde provides health services.

Sources checked 14 August 2026Next review 14 August 2027
An illustrated Renfrewshire riverside with a broad path, stone town, church spires and low hills.
Stylised illustration representing the area's character, not an exact photograph of a landmark or service location.

How support is organised in Renfrewshire

Additional support needs can arise from learning, health, communication, wellbeing, family circumstances or the environment around the child. In Renfrewshire, start by showing how the barrier affects this child rather than trying to choose the perfect category.

Speak to the nursery or school and ask what support it can begin, what evidence it is gathering and when everyone will review progress. A request for help is stronger when it includes the difficult situation, the impact and a realistic change that would improve access.

Renfrewshire Council is the education authority. Its current guidance explains additional support needs, how they are identified, what schools and nurseries can provide and how families can request support. It also describes routes for resolving disagreement.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde provides health services across Renfrewshire and neighbouring council areas. Health and education support can move in parallel. The school does not need to wait for a diagnosis before responding to a known barrier. Enquire offers independent advice about additional support for learning in Scotland.

FamilyFX local support signals

The local picture in 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 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.

NHS Greater Glasgow and ClydeCovers NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 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

Renfrewshire Council

Covers Renfrewshire

The council publishes current school and nursery additional support guidance.

Visit website

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Covers NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area

The board provides health services across Renfrewshire and neighbouring councils.

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 connect each barrier with an action, responsible person, frequency and review date. If an educational psychologist or another specialist becomes involved, clarify the question being asked and how advice will be shared with the family.

Record NHS referrals by service and date rather than only by health board. If a recurring appointment is outside the immediate area, consider travel and missed learning before the pattern is fixed. Keep recommendations from different professionals in one plan that school staff can actually use.

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 Renfrewshire?

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

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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.