Additional Learning Needs in school

If you have any concerns about your child’s learning or behaviour you should first talk to your child’s class teacher, the school’s additional learning needs coordinator (ALNCO) or headteacher.  

It is very important that you discuss your worries with school/education provider as a first step. Quite a lot of children will struggle with their learning and behaviour at some point during their school life. 

If a child or young person needs extra support in school or college, they may be classed as having additional learning needs. These can include those caused by learning and or physical disabilities. For a full definition of what constitutes additional learning needs, visit The Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales 2021.  

For some children and young people, these difficulties are short term or just affect a particular area of their education. For others, they will need support throughout their education. 

Most learners are educated in mainstream schools and colleges, which have an additional learning needs budget to provide support and resources.   

Person-centred planning meetings 

These are held to assess if a child has an additional learning need and will involve the child, their parents, school staff and an additional learning needs co-ordinator.  

They will discuss what is important to the child and the family, what support they think they need and their hopes for the future, which will help create a one-page profile for your child.  

If it is decided your child does have an ALN, they must be an Individual Development Plan within 35 working days. 

Individual Development Plans  

An IDP includes basic information, such as biographical information about the child or young person, contact details and information about those working with them and contributions from children and young people, parents and carers and professionals around four main aspects i.e. 

• 'what’s important to' the child/young person
• 'what’s important for'/ 'how best to support' the child/young person now and in the future
• 'what’s working'
• 'what’s not working'?
• an action plan, outlining how the child/young person’s needs will be met, by whom, and how this plan will be reviewed in the future.

IDPs are reviewed regularly by all those contributing to it. For more information about Individual Development Plans, please visit the educational charity website Snap Cymru 

No IDP Notice 

A No IDP Notice means that your child has been assessed as not having additional learning needs that requires additional learning provision. However, all schools and colleges will still be able to offer your child targeted support via a one-page profile.  

If you disagree with the No IDP decision, speak to your child’s school or college. If you are still unhappy with their decision, you can ask for the local authority to review the details by emailing AdditionalLearningNeeds@torfaen.gov.uk. Please include your child’s name, date of birth, their school or college’s details and an outline of your concerns.