Agenda item

Consideration was given to the Report upon the Additional Learning Needs strategy. It was reported that the New Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales was issued in March 2021 with the intention to implement the new system from September 2021. However, the implementation programme had been revised due to the impact of the pandemic.

A detailed background to the strategy was provided and that the aim of the new approach, as stated in the Code.

It was reported that due to the significant impact of the pandemic the ALN implementation plan was further reviewed by the Minister in July 2021.

From 1 September 2021, the ALN system would commence exclusively for children of compulsory school age and below who:

•are newly identified as having an additional learning needs (ALN) following ALN Code processes, regardless of their setting - including those that may attend an EOTAS setting, an independent school or who are electively home educated;

•are detained;

From 1st January 2022, the ALN system would commence for children of compulsory school age and below who:

•attend maintained schools (including PRUs) in Nursery Years 1 and 2 and Year 1, Year 3, Year 5, Year 7 and Year 10) who have special educational provision via early years action / early years action plus or school action SA /school action plus SAP;

•Children who currently had special educational provision via a statement; were awaiting or were in the process of an SEN assessment; and those who were over compulsory school age, would not be included in the first year of implementation.

•The movement of children to the new system was spread throughout the year.

•Parents would not be able to request a move to the new system until 1st January 2022.

It was reported that the Local Authorities were still awaiting the final three-year implementation guidance, which was expected to be published early in the Autumn term. This delayed guidance, was impacting the certainty of advice we were able to deliver to schools, as well as the preparation that was able to be undertaken with parents and support agencies.

Under the new ALN system local authorities had a duty to review the arrangements made by schools to meet the needs of learners with ALN. This guidance would outline Ceredigion Authority’s principles and expectations for educating children and young people with Additional Learning Needs (ALN). It also provided clarity on what was expected of Ceredigion mainstream schools in meeting the needs of learners with ALN and would be reviewed by the authority. This document would form an integral part of the authority’s framework for meeting the needs of all children and young people between the ages of 0 and 25.

Ceredigion was already well placed to implement many of the principles of the new ALN reforms and a list of these were provided. Also the risk that were identified due to these changes.

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The new ALN system would operate in parallel to the SEN system, during the three-year implementation period. A review of the implementation plan and principles and expectations document should be provided, once the final implementation plan and information has been confirmed by WG.

Ceredigion’s Principles and Expectations document would be presented to cabinet in due course. Members also raised concern that WG had stated that implementing these changes would be cost neutral, however, this was not the case due to the extra resources required.

It was AGREED to note the current position and to thank officers for their work in the implementation of this code.