FamilyFX: The Family Reset System
Local support in West Dunbartonshire

Additional support needs in West Dunbartonshire: local help and planning

West Dunbartonshire Council is the education authority and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde provides health services across the wider region.

Sources checked 14 August 2026Next review 14 August 2027
An illustrated West Dunbartonshire view across the Clyde towards wooded shores, stone buildings and Highland hills.
Stylised illustration representing the area's character, not an exact photograph of a landmark or service location.

How support is organised in West Dunbartonshire

In West Dunbartonshire, begin with the people who see the child learning each day. Describe the lessons, transitions, social situations or attendance patterns that are difficult, and include what the child says or shows about them.

Ask what support the school can provide now and how any wider assessment fits into a staged response. A useful plan recognises needs across the whole day, including breaks, movement around the building and the effort needed to recover at home.

West Dunbartonshire Council is responsible for education. Its current additional support information explains the local approach and directs families towards school and council support. The nursery or school is usually the starting point for an individual concern.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde covers West Dunbartonshire and several neighbouring council areas. A regional service may work across those boundaries, while education decisions remain local. Enquire provides independent Scottish advice about additional support for learning.

FamilyFX local support signals

The local picture in West Dunbartonshire

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 West Dunbartonshire

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

West Dunbartonshire Council

Covers West Dunbartonshire

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

Visit website

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Covers NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area

The board provides health services across six council areas.

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 for the school plan in writing and check that it describes who will do what, how often and when progress will be reviewed. If support depends on a specialist visit, ask what staff will do between visits and who will update the family.

For a health referral, record the receiving team, date and appointment location. Where services are delivered elsewhere in the board area, include travel and transition demands in the plan. Do not assume that information will pass automatically between two organisations without a named person responsible.

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 West Dunbartonshire?

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