Getting Support

  1. Speak to your child’s teacher if you think your child has Additional Learning Needs, or to our ALN Coordinator (ALNCo), Mrs. Miller. For further details and information, please see the video guide.
  2. If we agree with you that your child has ALN, we will work together with you and your child to create an Individual Development Plan (IDP).
  3. If we do not agree that your child has ALN, or you are dissatisfied with your child’s IDP, discuss it with us in the first instance, and then you may contact the local authority.
  4. If the local authority agrees with us, but you are still dissatisfied, they can point you to an independent advocacy service.
  5. All children and young people and their parents or carers have the right to appeal against decisions to the Education Tribunal for Wales (ETW).

Downloads

Information booklet for parentsDownload
Poster for parents about the new ALN billDownload

Video Guide

Dispute resolution

In the Vale of Glamorgan we are always keen to try to address any concerns, worries or issues as soon as possible, and this should be done by raising any issues with us, as a school, in the first instance. As far back as the draft ALN Code (2017) principles for good practice in the avoidance and early resolution of disagreements around Additional Learning Needs. (WG, 2017. pp. 169) were identified.

These good practice principles are:

  • Support to ensure parents can attend and contribute to meetings
  • Ensure communication is inclusive and sensitive so parents feel like equal partners so concerns and misunderstandings are dealt with early on
  • Face to face meetings to plan the way forward
  • All parties have the same information from the same trusted source
  • Timely and consistent communication so trust is built
  • Positive, open and constructive dialogue
  • Explanation of the legislation underpinning decisions and signposting to further information
  • Decisions are properly explained in inclusive language to parent and child / Young Person
  • Supporting the examination of the IDP so decisions are transparent and all evidence has been considered

We have staff trained in dispute resolution strategies to support this process.

The Welsh Government have produced a short film providing an overview of the aspects of the new ALN Bill for avoiding disagreements and early dispute resolution.

Following these strategies should help parents and school work together in a mutually supportive and honest partnership, with the child at the centre to discuss and resolve any issues.

More information can be found on the ALN section of the Vale of Glamorgan website.

SNAP Cymru

Parents can seek further advice from SNAP Cymru, a charity which provides information, advice and support for parents, children and young people who have or may have Additional Learning Needs or disabilities.

SNAP Cymru provide the following impartial, confidential and free services:

  • a helpline with information, advice and support
  • specialist casework
  • discrimination advice and casework
  • independent specialist ALN advocacy
  • disagreement resolution

Children, young people or parents can contact SNAP Cymru on 0808 801 0608 or by visiting their website.

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