The First Minister of Wales has announced that a Bill on Additional Learning Needs (ALN) will be introduced to the National Assembly for Wales in summer 2015. The Bill will create a new legislative framework for supporting children and young people with ALN. This will replace existing legislation for the assessment and provision of support for learners with special educational needs in schools and learning difficulties and/or disabilities in post-16 education and training.
A White Paper published for consultation in 2014 sets out how the proposals will create:
- a unified legislative framework to support learners aged 0 to 25 with ALN;
- an integrated, collaborative process of assessment, planning and monitoring which facilitates early, timely and effective interventions; and
- a fair and transparent system for providing information and advice, and for resolving concerns and appeals.
The White Paper, a summary of consultation responses and a report on the outcome of workshops held with children and young people was published in October 2014.
Work is underway to draft a new Code on ALN, which will underpin the proposed legislative framework. An initial draft of the Code is expected to be available to Assembly Members during the period of Bill scrutiny and will be issued for formal public consultation in due course.
For more information on this issue contact the Agency’s representative in Wales.
