ALN Transformation
The Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Bill was passed by the National Assembly for Wales on 12 December 2017 and became an Act on 24 January 2018 after receiving Royal Assent.
The Act is supported by:
- regulations - secondary legislation where further detail is required
- the ALN Code - statutory guidance and mandatory requirements to help people and organisations work within the law.
Over the last couple of years, Powys County Council has worked to improve the planning and delivery of additional learning provision in line with the legislative framework set out by the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (ALNET) Wales and the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) transformation programme. This has brought forth a fundamental change to the way additional learning needs of children and young people are supported.
This new ALN legislation and the statutory requirements that come with it have been key drivers for the establishment of a new inclusion system and accompanying processes by Powys County Council. It has given the local authority (LA) the opportunity to review and reform its inclusion processes to make them fit for purpose, and as effective as possible for the LA, schools, settings, and the children and young people who it ultimately is working to help and support.
The new inclusion system is made up of three core elements, namely the Tyfu gateway, the Tyfu platform, and the Powys Inclusion Panel (PIP) / Early Years PIP (EYPIP). This system is supported and implemented by the Inclusion and Youth Services team.
The Tyfu gateway is a telephone and email-based helpdesk. The function of the gateway is to be the first point of contact, a helpline for schools, parents, and professionals, and to signpost to the correct place if needed.
The Tyfu platform is an online software system which gives the ability to capture the full inclusion pathway journey details for a pupil, starting from a One Page Profile to a Universal Learning Plan, through to an Individual Development Plan. It also enables the development and integration of Personal Education Plans (PEPs) for children looked after (CLA).
The platform has been developed to:
- Integrate with the decision-making panels - PIP and EYPIP
- Provide secure access for pupils / parents / professionals to collaborate
- Achieve statutory compliance for the authority, schools, and settings
- Enable joint working with the health board
- Capture a wealth of county wide data including inclusion groups data
PIP and EYPIP are multi-agency panels which centrally coordinate all decision-making in respect of requests from schools / settings for local authority additional learning provision (ALP) or NHS support. The panels also manage the LA's statutory requirement in respect of LA Individual Development Plans. Whilst PIP has existed within the authority for several years, new terms of reference and operating procedures have been developed under the new inclusion system, along with several sub-committees to ensure efficient and timely decision-making. EYPIP is a sub-committee of PIP.
Some projects within the ALN transformation programme have now been completed and are being evaluated to assess the effectiveness of the services that we provide. Others are still ongoing.
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.
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,
- advice
The Additional Learning Needs Code | GOV.WALES
Further information is available on the following Welsh Government webpages:
Additional learning needs (ALN) system: guide for parents and families | GOV.WALES
Additional learning needs (ALN) system: children's guide | GOV.WALES
Additional learning needs (ALN) system: young people's guide | GOV.WALES
Additional learning needs (ALN) system: parents' rights | GOV.WALES
Written Statement: ALN Reform in Wales (20 September 2022) | GOV.WALES
Powys ALN celebrated as best practice by Estyn: Improving the evaluation, planning and co ordination of provision for learners with special educational needs (SEN) and other pupils who may require extra support | Estyn (gov.wales)
For information on the Powys County Council ALN Transformation Programme please contact:
- Email: tyfu@powys.gov.uk
- Phone: 01597 827108
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