Additional Learning Needs -Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol

St Philip Evans Catholic 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 new ALN Code has been rolling out since September 2021 for children who are newly identified as having additional learning needs. However, for those children who have already identified SEN via school action or school action plus, the new system will apply from September 2023. Please see the information leaflet for parents about these changes.

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.

For further information or advice, please speak to your child’s class teacher or contact our Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator (ALNCo):

Mrs. Davies

ALN and Dispute Resolution

At St Philip Evans Catholic Primary School we are always keen to try to address any concerns, worries or issues as soon as possible, and this should be done by raising any issues with your child’s school in the first instance. As far back as the draft ALN Code (2017) principles for good practice in the avoidance and early resolution of disagreements around Additional Learning Needs. (WG, 2017. pp. 169) were identified.

These good practice principles are:

• Support to ensure parents can attend and contribute to meetings
• Ensure communication is inclusive and sensitive so parents feel like equal partners open questioning in meetings so concerns and misunderstandings are dealt with early on
• Face to face meetings to plan the way forward
• All parties have the same information from the same trusted source
• Timely and consistent communication so trust is built
• Positive, open and constructive dialogue Explain the legislation underpinning decisions and signposting to further information
• Decisions are properly explained in inclusive language to parent and child / Young Person
• Supporting the examination of the IDP so decisions are transparent and all evidence has been considered

Following these strategies should help parents and school work together in a mutually supportive and honest partnership, with the child at the centre to disuses and resolve any issues.

Parents can seek further advice from www.snapcymru.org

SNAP Cymru provides information, advice and support for parents, children and young people who have, or may have, Additional Learning Needs or disabilities

SNAP Cymru provide the following impartial, confidential and free services:

• Helpline Information, Advice and Support
• Specialist Casework
• Discrimination Advice and Casework
• Independent Specialist ALN Advocacy
• Disagreement Resolution

Children, young people or parents can contact  SNAP Cymru on:

• 0808 801 0608  or visit www.snapcymru.org   an ALN enquiry can be submitted using the form on www.snapcymru.org/contact

To request a dispute resolution service

email: DRS@snapcymru.org   or for more information on dispute resolution see  https://www.snapcymru.org/mediation/