ALN

Welcome to our Additional Learning Needs page 

Additional Learning Needs Coordinator (ALNCo): Mrs W Jones wendy.jones@tycroes.ysgolccc.cymru

Don’t hesitate to contact Mrs W Jones if you have any concerns regarding your child’s development.

ALN in Ysgol Gynradd Tycroes

At Ysgol Gynradd Tycroes, we are passionate about Additional Learning Needs.

Children with additional learning needs deserve every possible help in their education. Our whole approach is child centred, based on the child’s individual needs and pace of learning. We strive to encourage each child to achieve to their potential and to recognise that each step on the way needs to be praised and valued. We have created a fully inclusive school ethos where all learners are given the opportunity to succeed and have access to an education that meets their needs and enables them to participate in, benefit from, and enjoy learning.

The ALN aims and principles of our school are:

  • To provide a rights-based approach where the views, wishes and feelings of the child and parent or carer are central to the planning and provision of support.
  • To ensure early identification, intervention and prevention.
  • To provide an inclusive education with differentiated activities suited to all children’s needs and abilities, in a broad and balanced curriculum.
  • To collaborate and work in partnership with parents, pupils and other agencies e.g. Educational Psychologist, Speech Therapists, School Nurse, Behaviour Support Community Team, etc.

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. 

ALN Transformation

This is “ALN Transformation” by Cyngor Sir Gâr | Carms Council on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

ALN in Carmarthenshire – How is ALN changing and how does it affect you? 

The new system will ensure: 

· Needs are identified early, addressed quickly and all learners are supported to reach their potential. 

· Our professionals are skilled and confident in identifying needs and deploying strategies to help learners overcome their barriers to learning. 

· That the learner is at the centre of everything we do and that they and their parents/ carers are equal partners in their learning (Person Centred Practice). 

Additional Learning Needs in Wales – what’s happening?

From September 2021 the new system will be brought in gradually over the next few years (2021 -2024). Here are some of the key messages about these changes and what they may mean for you and your child.

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. 

Additional Information 

The interactive e-learning course giving an introduction to the new ALN system is now available on the Welsh Government’s Hwb platform. Here is a Hwb news article introducing the course, which is currently on the Hwb homepage:

https://hwb.gov.wales/news/articles/20686965-8669-40ac-bdc5-599f4a4dfe8b

Here is the link to the course itself:

https://hwb.gov.wales/repository/publishers/9fb2afc9-6408-%204aa3-9474-3c745006535b/resource/c8033263-aaa0-42fc-9511-ab7d33bd8084/en

Welsh Government website: https://gov.wales/additional-learning-needs-special-educational-needs

SNAP Cymru as our parent partnership service provides dispute resolution and advocacy support for children and young people. Information can be found at: https://www.snapcymru.org

Our Local Authority also has its own information on their website which can be found at: https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales/home/council-services/education-schools/additional-learning-needs/