Information for Parents

‘Parents have a fundamental role in helping their child to achieve their potential. The child is far more likely to achieve their outcomes and potential when parents are actively involved and their views, wishes and feelings are taken into account’ (ALN Code WALES 2021).  

 

The links below are aimed at providing additional, accessible information for parents and carers to ensure they are able to play an active role in helping their child achieve their fullest potential.  

 

Welsh Government Parents’ guide: Additional learning needs (ALN) system: parents' guide [HTML] | GOV.WALES 

Cardiff Education Services Parent Guide: The ALN Process - Parent Guide | Cardiff Education Services 

 

A Parent's Guide to Additional Learning Needs 

Canllaw Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol ar Gyfer Rhieni  

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There is a phased approach to these changes over 3 years. This means there will be two systems operating from Sept 2021-2024, the new ALN system and the current SEN system. (Children and young people who currently have special educational provision through a Statement of SEN and those who are in any form of post-16 education, will not be included in the first year of the phased approach.  

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What happens now?

Children and young people with SEN or learning difficulties/disabilities might have: 

• an individual education plan (IEP); 

• a statement; or

• a learning and skills plan

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What will change?

Many of these children and young people will continue to have their needs met through high quality and routine classroom practice. There will be a few children and young people who have a learning difficulty or disability that calls for additional learning provision (ALP). This is provision that is additional to or different from that made generally available for others of the same age. These children and young people will have an individual development plan (IDP).

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What is an individual development plan?
An individual development plan is created through collaboration with the child and parent/ carer or young person in partnership with wider agencies that may be involved such as health and social care professionals. 

The individual development plan will say what the child or young person needs to be able to learn, setting out:

• what’s important to and for them;

• a description of their learning needs; and

• what will be done so they are properly supported in school or college and the additional learning provision (ALP) required to meet their additional learning needs.

 

This plan will be reviewed every twelve months or sooner if necessary.

An IDP can be created and overseen (maintained) by schools, colleges or the Local Authority, but regardless of who maintains the IDP, it is still a legal document so the provision written into it must be carried out by law. Over the next three years, individual development plans (IDPs) will replace all the plans we have now including:   

• Statements of Special Educational Needs (SEN);  

• individual education plans (IEPs) for learners currently supported through Early Years Action/School Action or Early Years Action Plus/School Action Plus; and

• Learning and Skills Plans (for learners over 16 attending college).

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The new ‘Decision Making Duty’ on the school

When a school is made aware that a child or young person at the school may have ALN, it must decide whether that child or young person does have additional learning needs unless: 

• an IDP is already in place;

• a decision has already been made that the child or young person does have ALN and their needs have not changed; or

• in the case of a  young person, they do not consent to the decision being made. 

 

Reconsideration of decisions

A child, their parent(s)/carer(s), or a young person can ask the local authority to reconsider the decision of the school regarding the child/ young person’s ALN.

The local authority must then decide whether the child or young person has ALN or not. When this happens, the local authority must inform the school of the request and ask for further information from them. The local authority may or may not uphold the school’s decision. In the event that the local authority does not uphold the school’s decision, it may direct the school to write an IDP.

If a child or parent/ carer, or young person is unhappy with the IDP, they can request the local authority to reconsider the plan.  The local authority may revise the plan, tell the school to revise the plan or confirm the plan is appropriate. 

Where the plan is maintained by the school, a child, their parent(s)/ carer(s) young person or school can also request that a local authority take over responsibility for maintaining the plan from the school. 

The local authority must decide whether to take over the plan (unless it has previously made a decision and the child or young person’s needs have not changed significantly and there is no new information to effect the decision). Where the local authority decides that it will not take over the plan, the child and parent(s)/ carer(s) or young person must be informed of this in writing.

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ALN Independent Information, Advice and Support - SNAP Cymru

You can also contact SNAP Cymru who provide impartial information, advice and support to help you:

• confidently share your views, make decisions and develop good relationships with professionals; 

• provide clear and straightforward information about your options

• help you make informed decisions; and 

• help you understand ALN law, entitlements and processes.

Disagreement Resolution / Mediation 

Sometimes it is difficult to reach an agreement. In this area, independent disagreement resolution is provided by SNAP Cymru.  The service can help, children, their parent(s)/ carer(s), young people, schools, and the local education authority when there is a dispute about ALN decisions and ALN provision. 

An experienced mediator will meet with parent(s)/ carer(s) and school or local education authority staff. The mediator does not take sides but will listen and find out what has been happening. The aim is to find a workable solution that everyone can agree with. 

Children and parent(s)/ carer(s) or young people who want to know more about this service can speak to SNAP Cymru on 0808 801 0608 or email: DRS@snapcymru.org or for referral and more information on: DRS - https://www.snapcymru.org/mediation/  

Disagreeing with Health provision

For disagreements related to health decisions and provision that have not been resolved through earlier discussions, you may use the “Putting things Right” process.

Link to health board “Putting things right” process

https://www.wales.nhs.uk/ourservices/publicaccountability/puttingthingsright

Education Tribunal Wales 

You have a right to appeal to the Education Tribunal for Wales. The Tribunal is independent and will consider appeals where there is disagreement with the local authority’s decisions.

An appeal can be made by a child, their parent(s)/ carer(s) or young person on the following: 

• a review of the decision made by a school whether a child/young person has an ALN;

• a decision by a local authority, in the case of a young person, as to whether it is necessary to prepare and maintain an IDP;

• the description of the person’s ALN;

• the additional learning provision in an IDP;

• the school named in the plan or if no school is named;

• a decision to revise an IDP;

• a decision not to take over responsibility for an IDP, following a request to do so;

• a decision to cease to maintain an IDP; or

• a refusal to decide a matter.

If you do decide to appeal to the Education Tribunal, you should let the named officer within the local authority know as soon as possible and continue to discuss your concerns. SNAP Cymru can also help you continue to resolve your disagreement

Contact details

For further information you could get in touch with any of the contacts below:

• SNAP Cymru Independent Information Advice and Support Service - Tel: 0808 801 0608.  

• Your local authority inclusion service.

• Special Educational Needs Tribunal for Wales - Telephone: 0300 025 9800  E-mail: Tribunal.Enquiries@gov.wales 

If you are unhappy with anything, you should make your views known as soon as possible.  If you are concerned about the progress your child is making at school or college, you should first talk to the class teacher.  This will provide an opportunity for matters to be addressed and resolved promptly and prevent problems from escalating.

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