This is the first in a series of updates on the changes in ALN legislation taking place in Wales. The aim of these updates is to provide an overview of key developments as part of the ALNET – Additional Learning Needs and Educational Tribunal (Wales) Bill.
Reading time: 3 minutes
A quick catch up on the last 12 months action
On 12th December 2016 The Welsh Assembly Government introduced the ALNET (Wales) Bill, because the current legislation is over 30 years old and is deemed not fit for purpose.
The Bill makes provision for a new statutory framework for supporting children and young people with additional learning needs. This is to replace existing legislation surrounding special educational needs and the assessment of children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities in post-16 education and training.
The Bill also continues the existence of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal for Wales and provides for children, their parents and young people to appeal to it against decisions made in relation to their or their child’s additional learning needs, but renames it the Education Tribunal for Wales.
4 top headlines of the Bill:
- Ensure that all learners with ALN are supported to overcome barriers to learning and can achieve their full potential
- Improve the planning and delivery of support for learners from 0 to 25 with ALN, placing learners’ needs, views, wishes and feelings at the heart of the process
- Focus on the importance of identifying needs early and putting in place timely and effective interventions which are monitored and adapted to ensure they deliver the desired outcomes
- Focus on skills development for the education workforce, to deliver effective support to learners with ALN in the classroom, as well as easier access to specialist support, information and advice.
Want more information?
Click here to hear from the Welsh Government about what’s happening in Wales for Additional Learning Needs – they provide an overview of the ALNET (Wales) Bill and ALN Transformation Programme.