Welcome to our Additional Learning Needs page 

Additional Learning Needs Coordinator (ALNCo): Mrs K Bennett  

Additional Learning Needs in Wales 

NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES 

The system for supporting children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and disability in Wales is changing. The Welsh Government is bringing in a new more flexible and responsive system of meeting the needs of children with SEN or disabilities and is striving to deliver a fully inclusive education system for the learners of Wales. 

Key Messages 

· The term Additional Learning Needs (ALN) will replace the terms Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD). 

· Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCos) in schools will now be called Additional Learning Needs Coordinators (ALNCos). 

· The mandatory ALN Code for the new system will cover children and young people aged 0-25 years. This means that early years and further education colleges will have duties under the Act, but this does not include higher education or apprenticeships. 

· The current graduated system of Early Years/School Action, Early Years/School Action Plus and Statements is being replaced over the course of the next 3 years. 

· All children and young people with an identified Additional Learning Need (ALN) that requires Additional Learning Provision (ALP) will have an Individual Development Plan (IDP). 

· The IDP will replace all other individual plans. IDPs for children under compulsory school age, who require them, i.e.in the early years, will be maintained by Local Authorities. 

· Most Individual Development Plans will be maintained by the school but may also be maintained by the Local Authority for those learners with the most complex needs. 

· The Act expects that all partners such as Education, Health and Social Care will work in collaboration to support children and young people with ALN. 

· There will be increased opportunities for children, young people, parents/carers to contribute to the creation and maintenance of Individual Development Plans through Person Centred Practice (PCP). 

· It is expected that working together more closely should help to avoid disagreements. 

· All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure Additional Learning Provision (ALP) will be provided in Welsh, if required.