What are Additional Learning Needs (ALN)?
All children and young people learn in different ways and at different rates. In every class in every school there will be some pupils who progress at a slower rate than other children and have been identified as having an additional learning need.
Children with additional learning needs may require additional support in one or more areas, including:
These needs may be long or short term.
At Oaklands Primary School we aim to provide both a broad and balanced curriculum whilst meeting the needs of all our learners. All our staff employ a range of teaching and learning strategies along with high quality resources and a range of interventions to fully support our young people to participate in their mainstream education. At Oaklands Primary School, we adopt a fully inclusive approach to education combined with universal learning provision that is able to meet a broad range of learning needs. Our well qualified and experienced teaching and support staff team have a wealth of expertise and are well placed to provide tailored support and challenge to all our learners. Through robust and careful planning, our teachers are able to provide a range of learning opportunities that respond to pupil’s diverse range of learning needs. In doing so, we are able to provide learners with the help, support and challenge they need to overcome their barriers to learning without the need for external support. However, a learner may experience more complex barriers to learning that means their specific need is additional to and substantially different from their peers. In this instance we will work closely with you to develop an appropriate support pathway, possibly in conjunction with our external support partners.
Additional Learning Needs Coordinator (ALNCo)
Mrs Hughes is the ALNCo for Oaklands Primary School. Her role is to ensure that the needs of pupils identified as having additional learning needs are met through effective systems and processes being implemented by all teachers. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the progress of your child, the first point of contact is their class teacher. Class teachers track learner progress regularly and are able to discuss the range of support already in place or create new support plans with you. Class teachers work closely with our Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator who is responsible for co-ordinating the provision for learners with additional needs. The ALNCo is able to provide advice and support to both class teachers and parents on a range of support strategies and external partners to help learners.
Additional Learning Needs in Wales
The Welsh Government aims to transform the expectations, experiences and outcomes for children and young people with additional learning needs. To do so, they have developed the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) ACT, which will transform the separate systems for Special Educational Needs (SEN) in schools and learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD) in further education, to create a unified system for supporting learners from 0 to 25 with ALN. For more information click on the links below.
Snap Cymru
SNAP Cymru provides information, advice and support for parents, children and young people who have, or may have, special educational needs or disabilities. We provide the following impartial, confidential and free services:
Children Looked After (CLA)
EPS Support Line