Our Vision
We are striving to deliver a fully inclusive education system for all of our learners. A system where needs are identified early, addressed quickly and all learners supported to reach their potential.
We want planning to be flexible and responsive, for our professionals to be skilled and confident in identifying needs and deploying strategies to help learners overcome their barriers to learning.
We believe that the learner should be at the centre of everything we do and that they and their parents and carers are equal partners in their learning.(Person Centred Approach)
Equality and Inclusion
The school has clear policies in place and is committed to providing equality and an inclusive education. All children have access to all activities and support is available to ensure this. We encourage respect within school and the wider community.
Some pupils will need extra help to prosper in school. Our policy for Additional Learning Needs complies with the Additional Learning
Needs and Tribunal Act 2018.
The progress of each child is carefully monitored and assessed. We have benchmarks of expected progress and Miss Payne, the Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator (ALNCo), reviews pupils in all classes each term. Where the progress of an individual child is giving cause for concern the parents will be informed. If parents are in agreement the pupils are placed on the Additional Learning Needs Register and the school writes an “Individual Development Plan” (IDP) in which targets are set. The plans are reviewed each term by the class teacher, ALNCo, children and parents.
For most pupils a short period of focused study is successful and they make good progress. This is especially true when parents give extra support at home. For a very small number of pupils we will require the help of outside agencies. Once again this can only be done with your permission.
If a complex problem persists, a request for formal assessment will be made to the LA. This can lead to an IDP which is overseen by the LA, which provides extra resources and staff to provide support.
If you have concerns about your child’s progress please discuss them with his/her teacher. The additional needs co-ordinator and / or the head teacher will also be happy to discuss your concerns. Please telephone to make an appointment.
Pupils with Disabilities
The school’s admissions policy does not discriminate against disabled children. Anyone can apply for their child to be admitted to our school and places are allocated by the Local Authority according to their policy.
Other Support
From time to time we identify pupils who may need some extra support in the form of “booster” activities. This may be for reading, writing or maths. This will take the form of small group work and will last for a short period, i.e. a term or half a term.
ADDITIONAL LEARNING NEEDS REFORM IN WALES – INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND CARERS.
NEW ALN BILL AND CODE
Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal Act (ALN ET 2018)
The system for supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disability in Wales is changing. The Welsh Government is bringing in a new more flexible and responsive system of meeting the needs of children with special educational needs or disabilities and are striving to deliver a fully inclusive education system for the learners of Wales.
The new system will ensure:
• needs are identified early, addressed quickly and all learners are supported to reach their potential.
• our professionals are skilled and confident in identifying needs and deploying strategies to help learners overcome their barriers to learning.
• that the learner is at the centre of everything we do and that they and their parents and carers are equal partners in their learning. (Person Centred Approach)
From September 2021 the new system will be brought in gradually over the next few years (2021-2024). Here are some of the key messages about these changes and what they may mean for you and your child.
Key Messages
• The term Additional Learning Needs (ALN) will replace the terms Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD)
• Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCos) in schools will now be called Additional Learning Needs Coordinators (ALNCos)
• The mandatory ALN Code for the new system will cover children and young people aged 0-25. This means that early years and further education colleges will have duties under the Act, but this does not include higher education or apprenticeships.
• The current graduated system of Early Years/School Action, Early Years/School Action Plus and Statements is being replaced over the course of the next 3 years. All children and young people with an identified additional learning need (ALN) that requires additional learning provision (ALP) will have an Individual Development Plan (IDP). The IDP will replace all other individual plans. IDPs for children under compulsory school age, who require them, i.e.in the early years will be maintained by local authorities.
• Most Individual Development Plans will be maintained by the school but may also be maintained by the Local Authority for those learners with the most complex needs.
• The Act expects that all partners such as Education, Health and Social Care will work in collaboration to support children and young people with ALN.
• There will be increased opportunities for children, young people, parents and carers to contribute to the creation and maintenance of Individual Development Plans through Person Centered Planning.
• It is expected that working together more closely should help to avoid disagreements.
• All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure additional learning provision will be provided in Welsh, if required.
Additional Information
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s ALN Policy can be viewed here: CCBC ALN policy final 20 – 22
The interactive e-learning course giving an introduction to the new ALN system is now available on the Welsh Government’s Hwb platform. Here is a Hwb news article introducing the course, which is currently on the Hwb homepage: Hwb online
Snap Cymru as our parent partnership service provides dispute resolution and advocacy support for children and young people.
The Local Authority has its own information about the ALN Transformation.
Leaflets explaining in more detail-Person Centred Practice, The IDP; Dispute Resolution and the Tribunal system are also available.
At Hendre Infants we are prepared for these changes in a number of ways. We recognise the importance of parents as stakeholders in their children’s education. We hope that you find the information in this document and this website useful in helping you to understand the changes.
ONE PAGE PROFILES AND PERSON CENTRED REVIEW (PCP’S)
Click here for a quick summary of the One Page Profile.
Person-centred reviews are a way of deciding what support is needed for a child or young person with special educational needs or to decide any changes that need to be made to their support. Welsh Government has created this document to explain in further detail. The video clip below will also give you some idea of what to expect if you are asked to attend one of these meetings with your child.
INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS (IDP’S)
You may be used to your child receiving an IEP, this will be changing. Some children will be supported through a targeted One Page Profile and some children will be supported through an Individual Development Plan, known as an IDP. Further information can be found in this document.