Responses to ALN Consultation                          13/2/17

Secondary SENCOs and SRC teachers

10 Aims

· 1: agree - One SENCO personally liked the change to ALN – would the stigma return in a few years?

· What is the cost & impact implications for the change in terms? Cost factor – changing all school documentation also. 

· 2: finance for 16/19-25? There isn’t enough information regarding how provision to 25 is to be provided - hopefully things will be clearer with the Code of Practice?

· Great in theory – how do we ensure that this will continue post 16? 

· Who takes responsibility? Who would track the person – Health / Education / Social Services?

· Does the ALN bill still apply if young people are not in an educational setting?

· Communication between health staff and education staff between the ages of 0-3?

· 3: agree but what ‘reasonable’ provision is expected prior to placing pupils on what is currently the SA/SAP threshold? Identifying needs for a reading intervention and the workload implications of this.

· 4: agree- this is seen as very good Practice

· 5: agree

· 6: remains to be seen. Concerns about various IDP criteria, this would be supported clearly within the Learning Services

· 7: The DECLO role would be an improvement compared with the current situation.

· 8:

· 9: huge implications – parental expectations.

· 10: code of practice in February.

0- 25

· What ‘reasonable’ provision is expected prior to placing pupils on what is currently the SA/SAP threshold?

· Would pupils who require intervention due to weak basic literacy/numeracy  skills be identified as having ALN or not?

· Careers Wales have specialist knowledge – are they included in the Bill?

· LAs will need to employ somebody with this knowledge in order to be successful here.

Multi Agency Working

· Role of the DECLO – great responsibility. DECLO training implications this will be an improvement compared to the current situation.

· Multiagency sharing of information is only with parental consent.

· Confidentiality could be an issue here as it is currently.

· IDPs and health finance will lead to less resources and intervention. We need criteria across Wales to ensure equity.

· A clearer picture of role and responsibility. Should be clearer for schools who this person is.

IDPs

· this is positive for the learner – where there will be one meeting (PEP/Child Development / Education)

· IDP’s – we do not have a clear cut off point in terms of transfer of responsibility  - very unclear.

· Criteria will be essential – Welsh Government need to provide this to safeguard schools / LAs

· Recognition of ALN - standardised scores of 84 and below

· Also need to include: PASS assessment information; area of need and definition of need.

· IDP’s to be reviewed. What would be reasonable? If there are any changes with pupils / young person, then it would be reasonable.

· Reviewing IDPs during annual reviews not at parental request. ALNCOs workload!

· Need to get rid of ‘on request’ and replace with ‘if needs change’.

Dispute Resolution and Avoidance

· A paper trail of evidence of including the pupil will be important.

Workforce Development

· Will the ALNCO be expected to have teaching responsibilities?

· If not, is this feasible in all school settings?