Additional support needs in Shetland: local routes and practical planning
Shetland Islands Council is the education authority and NHS Shetland provides local health services. Some support may involve inter-island or mainland travel.
How support is organised in Shetland Islands
Shetland families can be close to a local school but much farther from a specialist service. Support may be delivered by school staff, an outreach professional, a visiting team, remotely or through travel beyond the islands. The right arrangement is the one that meets the child's need and can be sustained.
Begin with the nursery or school and describe the points at which learning, attendance, communication or participation breaks down. Ask what can change now, who will coordinate any additional assessment and what support continues between specialist contacts.
Shetland Islands Council is responsible for education and publishes information about additional support needs, including the staged process and local education services. Schools can involve council specialists according to the child's circumstances.
NHS Shetland is the local health board. Its services include children's health, CAMHS, therapies and a learning disability and autism nursing service, although access depends on the relevant referral route and individual need. Some specialist care is provided with mainland partners. Enquire offers independent advice about additional support for learning across Scotland.
The local picture in Shetland Islands
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 Shetland Islands
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
Shetland Islands Council
Covers Shetland Islands
The council is responsible for education and local additional support decisions.
Visit websiteNHS Shetland
Covers NHS Shetland area
The board provides local health services and works with mainland partners for some specialist care.
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 separates the support available every day from input that depends on a visiting or remote professional. Include frequency, staff responsibility, review dates and what will happen if the planned contact is delayed.
For travel outside the home island, confirm who arranges it, whether a parent or carer needs to accompany the child and how missed school will be managed. NHS Shetland publishes patient-travel information, but individual eligibility and arrangements must be confirmed with the relevant team. Keep cancellations and changed routes in the same chronology as the referral.
Related FamilyFX help
Do you support SEND families in Shetland Islands?
If you are part of a charity, parent group, advice service, inclusive activity or another organisation supporting SEND families in Shetland Islands, 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.
- Enquire: advice for parents and carers, checked 14 August 2026
- NHS inform: urgent mental health help, checked 14 August 2026
- NHS Shetland, checked 14 August 2026
- Scottish Government: additional support for learning, checked 14 August 2026
- Shetland Islands Council, checked 14 August 2026