Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru | National Assembly for Wales

Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg | Children, Young People and Education Committee

Y Bil Drafft Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol a'r Tribiwnlys Addysg (Cymru) | The Draft Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Bill

ALN 12

Ymateb gan : Cymdeithas Arweinwyr Ysgolion a Cholegau Cymru

Response from : Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru

What are your views on the draft Bill? Please outline below any concerns you have, or areas that you think the Committee should explore further before the Bill is formally introduced.

The Bill appears to make good provision for young people with ALN.  It streamlines some of the processes by allowing schools and LAs to take decisions about the quantity and type of support needed without having to fit need to pre-determined categories.  However, the volume of administrative work that fulfilling the requirements of the Bill will require, particularly at school/college level, is significant, and will create significant additional costs in terms of personnel.

It is encouraging that the bill recognises

(a) the need for the young person to be fully involved in the process, and

(b) the addition of a proviso about choice of schools that makes it the duty of an LA to ensure that a school named for admission has the capacity to provide appropriate support (26.4).

Please highlight below your main concerns in relation to the Additional Learning Needs system. Let us know whether, in your view, the Bill addresses these concerns or if further work is needed.

It is still administratively very burdensome, and will remove some of our best teachers from the classroom in order to fulfil the role of ALNCo.  Inevitably there is no mention of financial support for schools and colleges to facilitate this; but it might be appropriate to ensure this is not ignored.

Do you have any other comments or issues you wish to raise that have not been covered above?

No