**Major Concerns Over Welsh ALN Reforms! 🚨**
Is the Welsh Government dropping the ball on additional learning needs (ALN) education reforms? Conservative education spokesperson Natasha Asghar seems to think so! She’s sounding the alarm on a whopping 53% drop in the number of kids identified with ALN since the new system kicked off four years ago. That’s from over 92,500 pupils to just under 44,000. 😲
Asghar believes these reforms are letting kids “slip through the cracks” at a time when more and more children are showing complex learning needs. She highlights major issues like workload pressures, lack of funding, and long waits for autism and ADHD assessments. 📝
But Education Minister Lynne Neagle is hitting back, saying it’s a complex problem that “we have to do right.” She’s announced an extra £8.2m to boost ALN programme delivery with over 32,000 pupils already benefiting from individual development plans. Still, she admits not all children have been transferred to the new system yet.💼
Plaid Cymru’s Cefin Campbell is pushing for mandatory ALN training for all teachers and assistants to address the gaps. Meanwhile, Heledd Fychan warns of a “postcode lottery” for Welsh-language support, leaving families fighting for their children’s rights. 😟
The clock’s ticking with only months left before the Senedd term ends in May. Everyone agrees—urgent action is needed to meet the promise of the reforms and make sure no child is left behind. 📚
What do you think should be done to ensure every child gets the support they need at school? Share your thoughts below! 👇