The way pupils with Additional Learning Needs (ALN) are supported in schools in Wales was reformed in 2022.
The ALN Act and wider ALN Transformation Programme aims to transform the separate systems for special educational needs (SEN) in schools or PRUs and learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD) in further education to create a unified system for supporting learners from 0 to 25 with ALN. At Richmond Park Primary School, we are working closely with outside agencies, Carmarthenshire County Council and our learners and their families to ensure that we successfully fulfil our obligations under the ALN Act and ALN Transformation Programme.
Additional Learning Needs at Richmond Park Primary School
Our aim at Richmond Park Primary School is to provide all pupils with the knowledge, understanding, skills and tools they need to be successful lifelong learners.
We recognise that all pupils come to school at different stages of development and with different needs. Whilst many factors contribute to the range of difficulties experienced by some children, we believe that much can be done to overcome them by parents, teachers and pupils working together.
Richmond Park School values the abilities and achievements of all its pupils. All children are valued, respected and nurtured. We endeavour to provide the best educational opportunities for each child and strive to maximise their potential in a ‘can do’ learning culture.
Pupils who meet the locally agreed criteria for having ALN will be supported by class teachers, teaching assistants, other adults and their learning environment.
The ALN aims of the school:
- To meet the needs of all pupils through excellent teaching strategies, classroom organisation and differentiation.
- To have a whole school Universal Provision that addresses the needs of all pupils.
- To ensure that all pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum.
- To ensure that early identification of a pupil’s needs is made, wherever possible.
- To ensure that pupils with ALN take as full a part as possible in all school activities.
- To adopt a Person Centred Practice approach where the pupil, parents, school staff and outside support agencies are involved from the beginning, in planning actions and ways forward to support pupils with ALN.
- To ensure that parents are kept regularly informed of their child’s progress.
- To ensure that pupils with ALN are involved, where practical, in decisions affecting their future ALN provision.
- To work in partnership with parents, pupils and other agencies e.g. Educational Psychologist, Speech Therapists, Social Workers, School Nurse etc.
Our Additional Learning Needs team incorporates:
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| Mr N Howells: ALNCo | Miss H Fish: ALNCo | Mrs C Smith: Assessment & Observation Unit Teacher | Mrs S Heckler: ALN Assistant | Mrs M Clarke: ALN Assistant |
Our ALN team aid class teachers in providing bespoke support for each pupil who has been identified with ALN. They ensure that staff have the necessary skills to create inclusive classrooms where all pupils are given the tools they need to succeed. Staff at Richmond Park Primary School are trained in the use of key skills, programmes and/or strategies to help support pupils with ALN. These include:
Key staff are trained to deploy Team Teach strategies.
Staff can work with pupils to create and use Social Stories.
Teaching Assistants have undertaken training to utilise Positive Play strategies with pupils throughout the school.
Teaching staff have been trained in the effective use of CHATT Profiles which assess pupils’ social, emotional and behavioural development and can identify and provide appropriate support where there may be concerns regarding one or more of these aspects.
Teaching staff have been trained how to recognise dyslexic tendencies and how to support pupils who have Dyslexia or display dyslexic tendencies.
Staff have received training in how to use Person Centred Planning Approaches and how to help pupils create effective One Page Profiles. All pupils at the school have a One Page Profile.
Richmond Park Primary School has also been recognised as an Autism Friendly School by Autism Wales. This means that our staff have completed training about how to provide an Autism friendly learning environment and older pupils in the school have signed a charter to show their commitment to making the school a friendly and positive environment for pupils with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder).
Richmond Park is a Trauma Informed school. Staff have undertaken training to support children who have experienced trauma. By engaging in this approach, we aim to ensure that all our pupils develop positive mental health and resilience, enabling them to fully engage in life and learning.
Assisted Technology:
Throughout the school, pupils have access to technology to support their learning, including iPads and Chromebooks in every class. All pupils are encouraged to use technology to support their learning. Many pupils with ALN benefit from the use of this technology. This includes the use of:
Immersive Reader, which is a tool that uses proven techniques to improve reading for everyone.
Speech to Text, which allows pupils to say what they want to write and then transcribes it into a document.
Dyslexic Browser provides a suite of tools to help overcome reading struggles caused by dyslexia.
Support Available to Families:
Carmarthenshire County Council
Family Information Service, Carmarthenshire