Find all Key Documents and Policies
The below policies and documents are either links to external websites, or are download links. Should you have any queries about any policies or documents, please use the contact us.
Your child would have already have been identified as having special educational needs (SEN) or if they are newer to the system Additional Learning Needs (ALN).
As they have an identified need that requires Specialist Provision to meet this need they may have a statement of special educational need. The approach to supporting children who have difficulties with learning is changing and some pupils in the school will already have Individual Development Plans (IDPs) under the new legislation.
The Welsh Government has passed new legislation, called the Additional Learning Needs (Wales) Act, and Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Code, which will replace all of the legislation and guidance about special educational needs.
As part of the Additional Learning Needs Educational Tribunal (ALNET) (Wales) Act 2018 the Welsh Government has replaced the term ‘special educational needs’ (SEN) with ‘additional learning needs’ (ALN).
ALN will cover those who:
- have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age
- have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of the educational facilities generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream maintained school or Further Education Institution.
However, as your child has significant needs under both the SEN legislation and ALN legislation; this change should not affect the support and help they receive in school to access learning.
The Act introduces a clear duty on local authorities to support you as parent/carers and your child to contribute to the planning for additional learning needs.
The main principles of the code are explained in this Welsh Assembly Government Factsheet.
The Welsh Assembly Government have provided a Frequently Asked Questions document around the transformation to the new ALN system.
As of January 2022; the Local Authority has no longer has a duty to carry out the Statementing process (unless this was started before this date). So, pupils will be coming to Ysgol Y Deri with IDPs.
For pupils who are year 11 and below (from September 2022) and have a Statement of SEN or are at School Action or School Action Plus, they will move to the new system over the next two years and their Statement will change to an IDP.
The table below shows when children in the first group and children with statements must be moved to the ALN system based on their school year group.
| Dates | School Year Group |
|---|---|
| Spring and summer terms of the school year 2021 to 2022 children with provision via school action/school action plus | Nursery Years 1 or 2, Year 1, Year 3, Year 5, Year 7 and Year 10 |
| School year 2022 to 2023 – children with provision via school action/school action plus | Year 10 (and any children who were in Nursery, Year 1, Year 3, Year 5, Year 7 and Year 10 in 2021/22 who were not moved to the ALN system during 2021/22) |
| School year 2022 to 2023 – children with provision via statements | Nursery, Reception, Year 6, Year 10 and Year 11 |
| School year 2023 to 2025 – children with provision via school action/school action plus | Nursery, Year 2, Year 4, Year 6, Year 8 and Year 10. |
| School year 2023 to 2025 – children with provision via statements | Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6, Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 |
So, children and young people will move from a Statement to an IDP over the next two years; this will be done via their Annual Review Meeting. The Local Authority will issue you with an IDP Notice to inform you of when they are moving over.
For pupils who are years 12 (September 2022) and above; they will continue to have Statements and not need to be moved to the new ALN system.
From September 2022 any parents of pupils year 11 and below can request that their child move to the ALN system and transfer to an IDP.
Planning and Reviews
The new ALN system in Wales places a duty on all Local Authorities and Schools to ensure the views, wishes and feelings of the child, young person and their parent or carer are at the heart of the decision-making process. This duty reflects the ethos of Person-Centred Practice (PCP). You might notice specific person centred questions at your child’s annual reviews and on the parental paperwork.
Please see the Vale of Glamorgan Website for extra information.
If you would like to talk about the transformation or have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our IDP Coordinator Vicky Jarvis at vjarvis@yyd.org.uk
Resources for Parent/Carers and those supporting children with ALN
A booklet is available to you in order to explain the new legislation, and how this will change the way that we will work with you to identify and support your child’s needs.
Please see the videos below that explain the transfer to ALN:
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Welsh
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Resources for children and young people
Please see a poster below for children and young people in order to explain the new legislation, and how this will change the way that we will work with them to identify and support their needs.
ALN and Dispute Resolution
In the Vale of Glamorgan we are always keen to try to address any concerns, worries or issues as soon as possible, and this should be done by raising any issues with us, as a school, in the first instance. As far back as the draft ALN Code (2017) principles for good practice in the avoidance and early resolution of disagreements around Additional Learning Needs. (WG, 2017. pp. 169) were identified.
These good practice principles are:
- Support to ensure parents can attend and contribute to meetings
- Ensure communication is inclusive and sensitive so parents feel like equal partners so concerns and misunderstandings are dealt with early on
- Face to face meetings to plan the way forward
- All parties have the same information from the same trusted source
- Timely and consistent communication so trust is built
- Positive, open and constructive dialogue
- Explanation of the legislation underpinning decisions and signposting to further information
- Decisions are properly explained in inclusive language to parent and child / Young Person
- Supporting the examination of the IDP so decisions are transparent and all evidence has been considered
We have staff trained in dispute resolution strategies to support this process.
A short film produced by the Welsh Government providing an overview of the avoiding disagreement and early dispute resolution aspect of the ALN Bill now Act can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzPllzbheI8 or click watch the video below.
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Following these strategies should help parents and school work together in a mutually supportive and honest partnership, with the child at the centre to discuss and resolve any issues.
Parents can seek further advice from www.snapcymru.org
SNAP Cymru provides information, advice and support for parents, children and young people who have, or may have, Additional Learning Needs or disabilities
SNAP Cymru provide the following impartial, confidential and free services:
- Helpline Information, Advice and Support
- Specialist Casework
- Discrimination Advice and Casework
- Independent Specialist ALN Advocacy
- Disagreement Resolution
Children, young people or parents can contact SNAP Cymru on:
- 0808 801 0608 or visit www.snapcymru.org an ALN enquiry can be submitted using the form on www.snapcymru.org/contact
To request a dispute resolution service
email: DRS@snapcymru.org or for more information on dispute resolution see https://www.snapcymru.org/mediation/
Right to Appeal
All children, their parents or carers and young people have the right to appeal to the Education Tribunal of Wales (ETW) against decisions. Their job is to hear and decide appeals about children with additional learning needs. Appeals can be made by you the parent/carer or the young person themselves. The ETW is independent of government, local authorities, schools and Further Education Institutions (FEIs). Its decisions are legally binding.
The Tribunal is also able to make decisions about a child’s ability to understand matters relating to the ALN system, including what it means to bring an appeal. The Tribunal can appoint a case friend to support the child or young person. A case friend is someone who will support your child through the tribunal process. Children and young people will be provided with information to access independent advocacy services.
The Index for Children and Young People with Disabilities or Additional Needs
The Index is for families who have children age 0-18 years, who have a disability or additional need and live in the Vale of Glamorgan.
It’s a way of us keeping families informed about what’s available locally and nationally.
You’ll receive a newsletter every three months, packed full with information about events, activities, playschemes and services, as well as regular ebulletins. You can also contact us directly with any questions you have.
Sign up is free and completely voluntary and you don’t need to have a diagnosed disability.
There is more information on our web pages, as well as a quick video and an online registration form: https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/theindex
The Index videos:
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Moving to the new ALN system – for parents, carers & professionals:
Here is an opportunity to hear from key professionals working on the implementation of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Click the link here, or watch the video below.
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More information can be found on the ALN section of the Vale of Glamorgan’s website at:
If you need the Welsh language version of any of the documents or links please contact Vicky Jarvis at vjarvis@yyd.org.uk.
