Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg
The Cabinet Secretary for Education announced as part of her oral statement on the progress of additional learning needs (ALN) reforms in Wales, a suite of actions to support ALN reform. This follows a comprehensive review of the ALN legislative framework and includes a significant £8.2 million investment, directly allocated to local authorities, education settings and colleges to improve delivery of ALN reforms.
Over four years, the Welsh Government has invested over £150 million revenue and £170 million capital funding to support the delivery of the ALN system
From September 2025, the Additional Learning Needs Education and Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018, together with the Additional Learning Needs code for Wales and associated regulations, creates the statutory system for supporting learners with ALN in Wales.
Building on investment achievements
This latest announcement represents continued commitment to improving ALN provision. Over the past four years, more than £80 million in capital funding has already supported improvements in 249 schools across Wales contributing to the transformation of learning spaces. This is in addition to the £750 million Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme over nine years creating new specialist provision.
Celebrating achievements
Through the dedication of education practitioners, local authorities, health and social care partners, learners and families, more than 32,000 statutory individual development plans (IDPs). These plans have been developed through person-centred processes that place the learner’s needs and voice at the core, enhancing access to specialist resources and building on collaborative partnerships.
What’s working well
This announcement is grounded in evidence from a four-year formative evaluation of the ALN implementation, parent and carer survey insights from over 1,600 families, ALN legislative framework review findings and the Estyn thematic reviews recognising school agility and creative interventions.
The comprehensive evaluation reveals positive progress, schools are creating transformational learning environments where children thrive. Children report having access to assistive technology and quiet spaces that remove barriers to their learning.Parents report positive experiences of individual development plan process, valuing clear timeframes and opportunities to discuss their child’s needs.
Practitioner support
Parents praise Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinators and school staff for their exceptional work in recognising children’s needs and providing the right level of support. Schools are successfully implementing smaller group provision, nurture groups, and specialist teaching facilities. Children are benefiting from flexible timetables, reduced class sizes, and emotional wellbeing support through programmes like ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant).
Parents report improvements in early identification processes particularly for pre-school children, with the system’s strength in not requiring medical diagnoses before providing support, helping children access help more quickly.
Looking forward
Enhanced national support to schools, colleges, and local authorities will work to increase consistency of delivery, ensuring equitable support regardless of location.
Working with the sector, the Welsh Government is taking action to reduce waiting times for children’s neurodivergence assessments and strengthen collaboration between education, health and social care services so that families receive the support they need.
A consultation is also currently underway on ALN data changes, covering individual learner data, provision delivery, and workforce information. Consultation closes on 3 December 2025.
Recognising the need for improved information, parents and carers will shortly be able to access updated information through a parent and carer toolkit, developed with families and the launching in November to provide clear, accessible information to navigate the ALN system.