Additional Needs Coordinator: Miss S Hughes

What is ALN?

Additional learning needs, often referred to as ‘ALN’, is a term used to describe learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for a child to learn compared to children of the same age. Approximately one in five learners in Wales have Additional Learning Needs (ALN).

All children may experience challenges with their learning at some point and, for most children, these difficulties are overcome with support from teachers and home.  However, children with ALN are likely to need extra or different help to be able to learn for a sustained period. Some children may have ALN because of a medical condition or disability; other children may have ALN without a diagnosis or disability.  

The ALNET Wales Act 2018 (Part 2, Chapter 1) (Chapter 2 ALN Code) says:

A person has additional learning needs if he or she has a learning difficulty or disability (whether the learning difficulty or disability arises from a medical condition or otherwise) which calls for additional learning provision.

A child or young person would not have ALN if their lack of progress or learning difficulties could be addressed through differentiated teaching of the kind that is usually available in schools or colleges. There is a wide range of learning difficulties or disabilities, but they can be broadly classified into the following four areas:

(a) Communication and interaction;

(b) Cognition and learning;

(c) Behaviour, emotional and social development;

(d) Sensory and/ or physical.

ALN Determination Process

Here at Saltney Ferry Primary School, we operate an inclusive policy with regard to Additional Learning Needs (ALN), placing the child at the centre of their learning. Children with additional educational needs are supported first and foremost by their class teacher using person-centred planning approaches, preparing differentiated work and individual resources. This ensures they have maximum access to the curriculum – using modified tasks, use of specific resources, and/or multisensory strategies. Pupils identified with additional learning needs may also receive small group or individual teaching sessions in an area of need, for example reading, maths or wellbeing. 

Where pupils with significant additional learning needs are identified, an individual development plan may be created with the additional needs' coordinator, class teacher, parents and child (where possible) and further assessments may be requested from external agencies and/or educational psychologists. These plans will then be reviewed yearly or earlier, as requested by the school, parents or the child, to ensure they remain relevant to the child and progress is being made. If parents do not agree with a decision, they should contact the additional needs coordinator or head-teacher in the first instance, and if agreement can still not be reached, parents may wish to contact Snap Cymru for support and guidance. 

ALN BILL AND CODE

Additional Learning Needs, as we know, have been on a journey over the last few years. A New ALN Bill and Code of Practice came into effect as of September 2021. In Saltney Ferry, we are continuing to adapt in line with these changes in a number of ways. We recognise the importance of parents as stakeholders in their children's education, and we believe that children should be at the heart of all we do, voicing their opinion whenever possible. 

ONE-PAGE PROFILES

A one-page profile is a single sheet of paper with three headings – what people like and admire about me; what's important to me; and how best to support me. At Saltney Ferry Primary School, we (on occasions) also include targets where necessary to support our learners in the best possible way. These targets may be addressed through in-class intervention, or small group intervention which takes place beyond the class. One-page profiles may also be used for children who do not have an individual development plan but may have needs that staff should be aware of. 

What is an IDP?

The Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a single plan that is put in place after determining that a pupil has ALN. The IDP includes a description of the child/young person's ALN, and the Additional Learning Provision (ALP) put in place in order to meet those needs must be noted.

How is the IDP drawn?

A Person-Centred Review is undertaken in order to ensure that learners and their families are placed at the centre of planning, reviewing and making decisions about what matters in their lives, and the support, namely the additional provision, they require in order to achieve their aspirations.

Who will be present?

Usually, everyone who works with the child will be invited to attend, e.g. parents, child/young person, ALNCo, Educational Psychologist, Health, Teaching Assistant, Class Teacher, Head of Year, i.e. any professional who is contributing to the child/young person’s support.

What will happen at the meeting?

There is a laid-back environment in a Person-Centred Review, with refreshments and chairs laid out informally. 

You will be asked to discuss...

• What do you appreciate about your child?

• Your aspirations for your child?

• What matters to your child?

• What matters for your child?

• The best way to support your child?

• What works and what does not work from your point of view?

• Any questions you may have?

At the end of the review

By the end of the Review, the Additional Needs Coordinator will ensure that everyone has agreed on Person Centred outcomes, and on actions that need to be achieved. The aim of the Action Plan is to ensure that everyone can see what needs to be done to support your child/young person to learn and fulfil their dreams.

The Individual Development Plan will say...

• What support your child needs to learn and develop.

• Who is responsible for ensuring that he/she receives the support they need?

• Where will they receive this support?

• How we will know if the support has helped your child in the way it was intended?

What’s next?

Following the review, the plan is shared with all partners. This will be a live electronic document that will be reviewed regularly as required and every 12 months at least. 

Further information about the Person-Centred Reviews can be found in the document below. 

https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2018-12/person-centred-reviews-toolkit.pdf