“ALN is at crisis point. We are seeing such an increase in the children’s needs and the number of children with complex needs that require specialist input entering mainstream school. We do not have the space, resources or staff to adequately support these children”
Teacher, Swansea
“86% of members said they need more funding to give children with ALN the support they need.”1 Our asks are clear:
- Fully-fund the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) system, to ensure every learner has access to the support they need.
- Ensure schools have universal access to specialist support service (including from health), to help identify a child’s needs and ensure the right provision for them is available to all schools.
- Ensure funding follows the needs of each child, schools must be incentivised to identify a child’s needs and provide the right support, for them at the earliest opportunity, including Welsh language provision.
- Ensure ALNCos, teachers and support staff have the time, training, and recognition they need to support each learner, not spending precious time completing paperwork, when they could be supporting children and young people.
- Ensure clear, high-quality, accessible information for everyone involved in the system, including children, their families and carers.
"Our school is really struggling. The teachers are finding it very difficult to meet the needs of their children. We have many children with complex needs and cannot support them or staff. This is the same for children with ALN, especially since the withdrawal of funds for 1-1 support.” Senior leader, Cardiff
We all agreed with the principles behind the Additional Learning Needs and Tribunals (Wales) Act and would value a system with early intervention and support for children who have, or may have, additional learning needs. However, “early, timely and effective interventions” are only possible if there are education professionals there to support children and young people. The funding crisis in Wales’ schools means that the aims of the legislation are not being realised, and children are missing out on vital support.
“Every year we face the possibility of redundancies which is ridiculous, we are losing support staff left, right and centre so the education for children with ALN suffers.”
Primary Teacher, Wrexham