What is ALN?

ALN stands for Additional Learning Needs. At Llanrhidian Primary School we recognise that all pupils come to school at different stages of development and with different needs. Whilst many factors contribute to the range of difficulties experienced by some children, we believe that much can be done to overcome them by parents, teachers and pupils working together.

Llanrhidian Primary school values the abilities and achievements of all its pupils. All children are valued, respected and nurtured. We endeavour to provide the best educational opportunities for each child and strive to maximise their potential in a ‘can do’ learning culture.

Pupils who meet our criteria for having ALN  will be supported by class teachers, teaching assistants other adults  and their learning environment.

We use the ALN code to identify pupils who have an ALN. 

(1) 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.

(2) A child of compulsory school age or person over that age has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she— (a) has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or (b) 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.

(3) 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 within subsection (2) when of compulsory school age.

(4) 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

If the answer is yes in relation to points 1-3 then we discuss whether the pupil requires  an ALP (Additional Learning Provision)

What is ALP?

ALP as defined by the code is:

1) “Additional learning provision” 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— (a) mainstream maintained schools in Wales, (b) mainstream institutions in the further education sector in Wales, or (c) places in Wales at which nursery education is provided.

(2) “Additional learning provision” for a child aged under three means educational provision of any kind.

(3) In subsection (1), “nursery education” means education suitable for a child who has attained the age of three

The ALN aims of the school

• To meet the needs of all pupils through excellent teaching strategies,  classroom organisation and differentiation.
• To have a whole school Universal Provision that addresses the needs of all pupils.
• To ensure that all pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum  To ensure that early identification of a pupil’s needs is made
• To  ensure that ALN pupils take as full a part as possible in all school activities 
• To use a Person Centred practice where the pupil, parents, school staff and outside support agencies are involved from he beginning in planning actions and ways forward to support pupils with ALN.
• To ensure that parents are kept regularly informed of their child’s progress
• To ensure that ALN pupils are involved, where practical, in decisions affecting their future ALN provision
• To Work in partnership with parents, pupils and other agencies e.g. Educational Psychologist, Speech Therapists, Social Workers, School Nurse etc.

School based Intervention programmes.

Additional Learning Needs(ALN) Transformation in Wales

Important Information relating to the new ALN Bill.

In Wales, we want to transform expectations, experiences and outcomes for children and young people with additional learning needs (ALN).
To do so, the Welsh Assembly have developed the additional learning needs (ALN) transformation programme, which transforms the separate systems for special educational needs (SEN) in schools and learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD) in further education, to create a unified system for supporting learners from 0 to 25 with ALN.
The transformed system will:

•  ensure that all learners with ALN are supported to overcome barriers to learning and 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.

New legislation and statutory guidance is only one aspect, albeit a fundamental one, of the wider package of reforms needed. The ALN transformation programme also focuses 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.