The ALNET (Wales) Act

The Welsh Government has passed new legislation, called the Additional Learning Needs (Wales) Act, and Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Code, which will replace all of the legislation and guidance in relation to special educational needs.

 As part of the Additional Learning Needs Educational Tribunal (ALNET) (Wales) Act 2018 the Welsh Government has replaced the term ‘special educational needs’ (SEN) with ‘additional learning needs’ (ALN).

 However, the definition of ALN is different and you may find that your child currently has SEN but will not have ALN.  This should not affect the support and help they receive in school to access learning.

 ALN will cover those who:

• have a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age 
• have a disability which prevents or hinders them from making use of the educational facilities generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream maintained school or Further Education Institution.

Should you have concerns that your child has Additional Learning Needs, please speak to your child’s class teacher, or the school’s ALNCo, Liz Durrant to discuss this further.

Additional Information

For additional information regarding ALN, follow the links below:

Additional Learning Needs in Wales – What is happening in Wales?

A Parent / Carers guide to Additional Learning Needs:

Guides on the process for parents and pupils as well as information on the appeals process can be found at:
https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/living/schools/Additional-Learning-Needs/Additional-Learning-Needs.aspx 

Further information about the ALN Act can be found at:
https://gov.wales/additional-learning-needs-and-education-tribunal-wales-act