Definitions of ALN

"Additional learning needs" or "ALN"

• A person has additional learning needs if he or she has a learning difficulty or disability (whether the learning difficulty or disability arises from a medical condition or otherwise) which calls for additional learning provision
• A child of compulsory school age or person over that age has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she: 
  • has a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, or
  • has a disability for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010 which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities for education or training of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream maintained schools or mainstream institutions in the further education sector.
• A child under compulsory school age has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she is, or would be if no additional learning provision were made, likely to be within subsection (2) when of compulsory school age"

Additional learning provision" or "ALP"

• "Additional learning provision" for a person aged three or over means educational or training provision that is additional to, or different from, that made generally for others of the same age in mainstream maintained schools in Wales, mainstream institutions in the further education sector in Wales, or places in Wales at which nursery education is provided.
• "Additional learning provision" for a child aged under three means educational provision of any kind
• "nursery education" means education suitable for a child who has attained the age of three but is under compulsory school age

When making the decision if the young person requires an IDP the school will consider if the pupil has ALN that requires ALP. ALP can take many forms; The support may be provided in small groups, individual or bespoke provision. This is usually provided via school’s resources but can include support and advice/service from the Local Authority ALN and Inclusion service.

ALP for those aged under three can take many forms; for instance, group work or individual support - where the pupil attends educational provision of any kind. This might include, for example specialist health, physical, communication or sensory support within their education setting.

The Local Authority’s ALN and Inclusion Services work in collaboration with the young person /parents/carers /schools and other agencies using a person-centred approach. We provide advice, guidance and support for pupils who have or may have Additional Learning Needs (ALN).