Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director Education.

The Corporate Director Education advised that the purpose of the report was to provide the Executive with an update on the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) and Tribunal (Wales) Act (2018) and the progress made by the Education Directorate in readiness. The Corporate Director referred to the scope and background which noted that from September 2021 all Councils had a responsibility to ensure that the requirements of the ALN Act and accompanying Code was in place to support learners aged 0-25 years.

The Corporate Director outlined the regional and local support and reported that the ALN Act required from January 2021 the introduction of a new statutory post in each local authority of an Early Years ALN Lead Officer. The Corporate Director was pleased to report that this post had been appointed in December and sits within the ALN Service based in Pen-y-Cwm Special School.

It was added that Welsh Government had made the decision not to suspend statutory SEN processes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Corporate Director noted that this had not been an easy task to manage during the current circumstances. However, with the regional and local approach in place, the Inclusion team are confident that all that needs to be in place for September 2021.

The Corporate Director Education referred to the budget implications and advised that the impact on the budget from September 2021 was not fully known, however there would be a requirement for a statutory Early Years ALN Lead Officer which would lead to a further cost pressure of £70,000.

The Executive Member for Education thanked the Corporate Director Education for a comprehensive presentation of the report which recognised the amount of work undertaken to ensure the Council was prepared for the ALN Act. The Executive Member was pleased that the Council would be ready for September 2021 to support our ALN Learners.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and Blaenau Gwent agreed that the ALN would be ready for September 2021 when the ALN Act becomes operational and appropriate preparations are taking place.