Adding Additional Support Needs registration: case studies

Natalie Paterson

Full Registration in Secondary (Biology) Education (2016), added Provisional Registration in Additional Support Needs (2025)

Natalie worked as a scientist and one role took her briefly into a school as a science technician. Here she realised she wanted a more active role in the classroom as a teacher and decided to undertake her Secondary Education PGDE at University of Strathclyde. She went on to gain full registration in biology with science. Over time Natalie moved into middle leadership roles, eventually taking on her current post as principal teacher biology. As part of her original PGDE, the module on inclusive education really stuck with her, so when she decided to undertake her Master’s in Education, she started with the inclusive education modules.

The collaborative learning with colleagues on the course, some of whom worked in Additional Support Needs (ASN) provisions, had a powerful impact on her. She felt she learned so much about herself and decided to use this learning to apply for Professional (Additional) Registration in ASN. With the support of her line manager and headteacher, she is working towards gathering evidence for Full Registration. She appreciated the support from the deputy headteacher with the role of child protection coordinator, allowing her a valuable insight into child’s plan meetings.

Natalie strongly feels that because of her PG Cert Inclusive Education she now examines her practice differently. She has been engaging with how to make resources more inclusive, focusing on the role of making language more inclusive.  In her words,

It's the best thing I've ever done. It has totally transformed my practice as a leader, as a teacher, as a wider person in the community, as a person that delivers professional learning, as someone that advocates inclusive education in the class.

She feels that gaining her Professional (Additional) Registration in ASN acknowledges her achievements and gives her a valuable broader professional platform going forward.

Ross Docherty

Full Registration in Secondary (English) Education (2021), added Provisional Registration in Additional Support Needs (2025)

Ross completed his degree in English and went to Japan and South Korea to teach English as an additional language. He returned to Scotland and undertook a teaching qualification based on his degree subject, successfully completing his Secondary Education PGDE at the University of Glasgow. He moved to London where he gained full registration, teaching in a diverse range of state and private schools over the next four years. Ross moved back to teach in an independent school in Scotland and has now worked for a number of years for an online education company as Head of English, doing occasional supply work for his local authority. Many students he works with are home schooled, completing online courses and Ross noticed that a lot of them had additional support needs (ASN). He used online tools to help support his learners and felt his next step was to improve his skills and build his knowledge in terms of how best to support learners with ASN.

Ross undertook the PG Certificate in Inclusive Practice at the University of Aberdeen. The course helped him get up to date on policy in relation to ASN and inclusion within schools in Scotland.  He enjoyed the academic readings and soon focused on how digital tools and technology can be used to help students, in practical and ethical ways that promote equity, either in online environments or in physical classrooms. The key concept for him was universal design for learning, which is underpinned by how to design learning activities that included all learners. The course involved working collaboratively with teachers from very different backgrounds, getting different perspectives and experiences, collaborating on enquiries and so in a practical way, in his reflection, becoming a better teacher.

This additional registration in ASN has raised his interest in looking at new challenges and starting to apply for jobs where he can use both his English and ASN registrations to good effect. Ross has gone on to undertake a further PG Certificate in Digital Pedagogy which he feels is more a continuation of his enquiry than a separate programme.  Ross believes that having Professional (Additional) Registration offers more opportunities in terms of what type of teaching role a teacher is able to do, whether it's a dual role or subject change, without having to change the profession you are deeply committed to.