ALN Reform
Draft Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales – Regional Consultation Events Video
The Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018
The Additional Learning Needs and Educational Tribunal (Wales) Bill was passed by the National Assembly for Wales on 12th December 2017 and became an act on 24 January 2018 after receiving Royal Assent.
The Act aims to improve the planning and delivery of additional learning provision, through a person-centered approach to identifying needs early, putting in place effective support and monitoring, and adapting interventions to ensure they deliver the desired outcomes.
The act will be supported by:
- secondary legislation where further detail is required
- an ALN code – statutory guidance and mandatory requirements to help people and organisations work within the law.
Local authorities and all those who work with children and young people with SEN, must ensure that they continue to comply with the duties placed upon them by the Education Act 1996. They must also continue to have regard to the SEN Code of Practice for Wales (2004).
What does The ALN Act mean?
1. ALN stands for ‘Additional Learning Needs’ and replaces the terms ‘special educational needs (SEN)’.
2. The Act supports children and young people aged between 0 to 25 years who have ALN.
3. The Act creates an Individual Development Plan (IDP) for children who need one.
4. The Act promotes ‘Pupil Voice’ as part of the planning process, along with those of their parents/carers. At Central Primary, we value listening and responding to the needs of our children and families.
5. An IDP sets out how the child can achieve their full potential.
6. Revision of an IDP should be much simpler than is currently the case with previous ‘statements of SEN’.
7. We value positive collaboration and information sharing between agencies. This helps to make sure the child’s specific needs are identified early and the right support is put in place to help them meet their targets.
8. We value early disagreement resolution by working closely with all involved in supporting the child and their family.
9. Where disagreements about the contents of an IDP cannot be resolved at the local level, the Act ensures that children entitled to an IDP and their families have a right of appeal to a tribunal.
10. The ALN Code sets out clear and legally enforceable parameters which local authorities and other organisations responsible for supporting the child with ALN, must act within.
11. The Act requires that services must consider whether a child needs additional learning provision in Welsh. If they do, this must be documented in the IDP and ‘all reasonable steps’ must be taken to secure the provision in Welsh.
Person Centred Reviews
What is a person-centred review?Person-centred reviews are a way of deciding what support is needed for a child with special educational needs or to decide any changes that need to be made to their support. It is important that children have the right people involved in their review meeting to help them to plan for their future. This means that the review can make sure that they have the things that are important to them, as well as the right support to help achieve their aspirations.Who will be there?We greatly value pupil voice. Your child can choose who they would like to be there, but there will also be some people who have to be there. Sometimes there may be lots of people involved in the review, such as health, social care and education professionals as well as family and friends. For others, there might just be you, your child, and our relevant staff.Where and when will it be?It will be held at our school. (Please check which site prior to the meeting) The time and date should suit you and your child as well as any other people who are coming. There will be at least one review a year – staff will let you know when these are due.What do you need to think about before the meeting?Our ALNCOs, Mrs James and Mrs Thomas, send out information leaflets and booklets to give you a place to record your thoughts and views prior to the meeting. If you are going to be at the review, then this booklet will help you to think about the things you want to say and you can use it to write down things you want to remember to say on the day. If you are not going to be at the review then it may still be important to your child that your views are heard at the meeting. In this case, it is really important that you take time to think about the questions, record your thoughts in the spaces provided and send this booklet to your school or college by the date they have asked for. This will help to make sure that your views are listened to at the meeting.What will happen at the meeting?You will find a person-centred review has a relaxed atmosphere, very different to other traditional meetings you may have been to. Everything is set out to be as informal and comfortable as possible. If it is a small meeting, it may be just a relaxed talk. Every review will change to meet the needs of your child, who is at the centre of the meeting.One person, called a facilitator, will have the job of making sure that everyone can have their say and that the meeting comes up with targets and actions for change. The facilitator is most likely to be someone from our school and you will know who it is before the meeting. The meeting begins with everyone introducing themselves and possibly sharing something that they like or admire about your child. The facilitator will explain what will happen in the review meeting, and then everyone will have the chance to share their views and knowledge about your child. When everyone has finished giving their comments, you will all think about and talk about what needs to change and what outcomes and targets you want to see. You will then all agree what actions need to take place to support your child to help them meet their aspirations.At the end of a review:By the end of the review the facilitator will make sure that there is an agreed Action Plan. The Action Plan is to make sure that everyone can see what is going to be done to support your child to learn and to achieve their dreams.For more information please see links below.