A view from Cabinet Secretary Lynne Neagle.
Our brand-new Curriculum for Wales and new statutory system for supporting learners with additional learning needs (ALN) are ambitious reforms in Wales. I’m proud to drive forward the systemic changes in partnership with an incredibly committed workforce.
We are changing the separate systems for special educational needs (SEN) in schools and settings and learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD) in further education, to create a single system. Our new system is supported by legislation and a national ALN Code to ensure consistency across Wales.
We now use the term ALN (Additional Learning Needs) and are implementing a new ALN system designed to support children and young people aged 0-25.
The individual development plan (IDP) replaces the existing SEN support plans and follows the learner through school and college. We are almost three years into the four-year implementation period of transferring from the old SEN system to the new ALN system, and schools and local authorities are introducing IDPs gradually. Unlike the Education, Health Care Plan (EHCP), all children and young people in Wales with ALN will have an Individual Development Plan (IDP) under our new system, whatever the severity or complexity of their need.
But it’s much more than a change in terminology or process. The reforms we’re implementing in Wales are aimed at achieving the kind of systemic change in culture and practice that’s needed to ensure all our children can reach their full potential.
I care passionately about this and ALN has been an immediate focus for me since I started my job as Cabinet Secretary for Education in April this year.
Our reforms
Curriculum reform is a central part of transforming education. The Curriculum for Wales will support young people to develop the skills they need to make the most of life.
It offers teachers more flexibility to teach in a way that best meets the individual needs of each child, breaking down barriers to provide excellent educational opportunities and outcomes for all learners.
It will also empower learners to become more digitally and bilingually competent, to be confident, capable and compassionate citizens—citizens of Wales and citizens of the world.
I believe that good mental health underpins the education system, and I continue to champion the whole-school approach to mental health that I introduced whilst in my role as Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being. This approach is fundamental to the success of our new curriculum and ALN system. Reform and improvement must be aimed at creating a whole system that works for all learners. My job is to make the whole system work together.
We want an inclusive education system where learners’ needs are listened to, responded to. Our national mission commits to breaking down barriers for all learners across a range of settings. We want every learner to be supported to participate fully in education, with a whole school approach taken to meeting their needs. Part of this is ensuring we can promote and deliver a bilingual education and ensure consistency for all learners.
I am determined to ensure that our education reforms will improve outcomes for children and young people with ALN.
Since 2020, we have significantly increased investment in ALN, with more than £107 million to support implementation of the new system as well as providing £60 million capital investment to local authorities in Wales to improve facilities and infrastructure for learners with ALN.
Schools and local authorities are working incredibly hard to deliver our ALN reforms and a recent Estyn report recognised this.
I know there is more work to do to join up health and education, which is why we have set up a new health and education multi-agency group to improve health and education collaboration, and to work through any operational issues.
Workforce
Teachers in Wales have undergone extensive professional training and supporting learners with ALN is now part of student teachers’ core studies. I’m really pleased that we’re developing new professional learning on child development, neurodivergence and mental health to support more inclusive environments, high-quality teaching and learning, and holistic practice.
Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinators (ALNCos) should be members of the school senior leadership team who use their positions to champion ALN across all aspects of the school’s work. They play a very important role and I have made extra funding available to schools to provide time and space for ALNCOs to do what is a demanding job. When you’re working in a person-centred way with families, that takes time.
I’m proud of the strong cluster working that has developed in Wales (which is when schools work closely together). This means knowledge, practices and specialist resources are being shared to ensure pupils have the individual support they need.
Looking ahead
We have already extensively reviewed implementation, but I want to see further improvements to make the system more consistent across Wales, focusing on the issues that are being raised with me. We will keep working with local authorities to understand the barriers at a local level and support them to fulfil their current statutory duties. This will include making sure that the legal definition of ALN and local authority duties are clearly understood and applied.
Local authorities and schools are sharing fantastic examples of effective practice and progress in embedding an inclusive approach to education across settings. Looking ahead it is my priority to spread and share what’s going well, and work with partners to support and overcome areas of concern, and importantly to ensure children who require additional support can thrive and progress in education.
I am hugely grateful to the workforce in Wales for their commitment to our reform agenda. I have been greatly impressed by the enthusiasm and passion among the people I have already met which adds inspiration to my determination to put children and young people first.
Lynne Neagle
Lynne Neagle is Cabinet Secretary for Education, Welsh Government.
Website: gov.wales/education-skills