Welcome to Stacey Primary's ALN Page. Below you will find information and links to videos to support you in finding out about ALN at Stacey.

Stacey Primary School is an inclusive school where all staff are committed to the success of each and 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 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:

• whole class teaching

• effective differentiation

• collaborative group work

• 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 wide range of evidence will be gathered over time, including:

• assessment tools, frameworks and questionnaires

• standardised assessments

• observational data

• formative assessments of day to day learning

• monitoring progress over time

• assessments from external agencies e.g., Specialist teachers, Educational Psychologists etc. 

• Discussions with the child's parents and wider team around the child using the Personal Centred Planning approach (PCP)

From 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)

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

ALN- A person has additional learning needs 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 child under compulsory school age has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she is, or would be if no additional learning provision were made, likely to be, when of compulsory school age. 

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.

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

ALP-For a person aged three or over 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.  “Additional learning provision” for a child aged under three means educational provision of any kind. Nursery education means education suitable for a child who has attained the age of three but is under compulsory school age.

Here are some very helpful documents and videos to give you further insight into ALN and what we do as a school to support your child through their ALN journey.

Please do speak to Mrs Davies if you have any questions or concerns. I am always happy to speak to you! 

Below is a useful guide explaining ALN and jargon busting!

Below is a link to a Youtube video of an animation explaining ALN for parents and carers.

Scan the QR code to watch a child friendly version of the ALN animation

The Local Authority has recently created some great explanatory leaflets about the ALN process. Click on the links to learn more about the IDP and PCP processes.  

Your right to appeal.

In the very unlikely event that your relationship with us should break down, you have the right to a appeals process. Please see the link below to find out further information. 

SENTW (Special Educational Needs Tribunal Wales) have released useful documentation regarding how they can best help parents and guardians navigate the world of ALN. Clink on the link to read more about how SENTW can help you.  

Dyslexia Guidelines- Cardiff Inclusion Service

Should you have any further questions or just want to chat a few of these points over please feel free to contact Mrs Davies and we will do all we can to help you.