Additional Learning Needs (ALN)

Adamsdown Primary School is an inclusive school where all staff are committed to the success of every pupil.

All children are valued, respected and welcomed to our school, whatever their additional educational needs may be. We support children’s learning and aim to ensure they are fully included in all school activities.

The Additional Learning Needs and Educational Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 makes provision for a new statutory code for supporting children and young people with additional learning needs (ALN) from the age of 0-25.

The new ALN system aims to transform the expectations, experiences, and outcomes for children and young people with ALN placing learners' views at the heart of the process.

As a school we ensure the needs of our children are met through high quality teaching and learning provision.

Our Universal Provision includes:

· Cluster Class System (children a placed into a class which will best meet their needs)

· Effective differentiation (adapting tasks, support, and expectations so each child can learn successfully at their own level)

· Work in a variety of groupings (whole class, group work, paired work and independently)

· individual and small group interventions

· appropriate and reasonable adjustments to enable access to the school environment, curriculum and facilities.

If a child is not making expected progress in their learning from their baseline point we will gather observations, use assessment data and seek to work in collaboration with outside agencies / professionals to identify any additional learning needs. A range of evidence will be gathered over time.

Following this, the decision may be made that it would be in the best interest of the child to receive an Individual Development Plan (IDP)

This would outline the child's Additional Learning Need (ALN) and Additional Learning Provision (ALP)

Definition of Additional Learning Needs (ALN) as outlined in the Additional Needs Code for Wales

A person has ALN if he or she has a learning difficulty or disability (whether the learning difficulty or disability arises from a medical condition or otherwise) which calls for additional learning provision.

A child of compulsory school age or person over that age has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or has a disability for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities for education or training of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream maintained schools or mainstream institutions in the further education sector.

A person does not have a learning difficulty or disability solely because the language (or form of language) in which he or she is or will be taught is different from a language (or form of language) which is or has been used at home.

Definition of Additional learning Provision (ALP) as outlined in the Additional Needs Code for Wales

For a person aged three or over, ALP means educational or training provision that is additional to, or different from, that made generally for others of the same age in mainstream maintained schools in Wales, or, mainstream institutions in the further education sector in Wales, or places in Wales at which nursery education is provided.

Further Advice and Support

If you have any questions about this process or a query regarding individual pupils, our Additional Learning Needs Coordinator (ALNCo), Ms Williams, please call the school on 02920 493600.

You may also like to contact the Local Authority’s ALN Helpline on 029 2087 2731 or email ALNHelpline@cardiff.gov.uk for further information and advice.

If you would like independent advice SNAP Cymru offers information, advice and support to children and their parents or carers and young people who have/or may have Additional Learning Needs (ALN). The service can help you with 'one off', straightforward advice or more in-depth support from a caseworker at your local team. They will provide clear, reliable and straightforward information about your options and help you confidently share your views and make informed decisions.

You can contact SNAP Cymru via the helpline on 0808 801 0608 or by completing an enquiry form on www.snapcymru.org/contac