ALN (Additional Learning Needs)
The Welsh Government has passed new legislation, called the Additional Learning Needs (Wales) Act, and Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Code, which will replace all of the legislation and guidance about special educational needs.
As part of the Additional Learning Needs Educational Tribunal (ALNET) (Wales) Act 2018 the Welsh Government has replaced the term ‘special educational needs’ (SEN) with ‘additional learning needs’ (ALN).
ALN will cover those who:
- have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age
- have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of the educational facilities generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream maintained school or Further Education Institution.
There are four main areas of ALN:
Communication Interaction
Social, Emotional and Mental Health.
If you believe your child has ALN or is struggling in school please speak to your child's teacher or the School ALNco (Additional Learning Needs Coordinator) Miss Bale.
We will listen to your concerns and gather all the information we need to decide if your child has ALN. This may include assessments, observations and/or referrals to specialist teams.
If your child does not have ALN but still needs extra support we will create a school support plan with you.
If your child does have ALN we will create an IDP - an individual development plan with you via a meeting called a PCP meeting- or a person centred practice meeting.
If the school does not agree that your child has ALN, or you are dissatisfied with your child’s IDP, discuss it with the school or local authority.
If the local authority agrees with the school but you are still unhappy, they can point you to independent advocacy services.
All children and young people and their parents or carers have the right to appeal against decisions to the Education Tribunal of Wales (ETW).
A booklet is available to you in order to explain the new legislation, and how this will change the way that schools will work with you to identify and support your child’s needs.
Guidance Booklet for parents /carers
More information and useful videos can be found on the Vale of Glamorgan ALN page here:
If your child has ALN and is already known to the school we will work with you to produce an IDP to be in place by July 2022.
Please see below for more information and useful resources.