Agenda item

To submit a report by the Director of Education, Skills and Young People.

Submitted – a report by the Director of Education, Skills and Young People for consideration by the Committee.

The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language said that the purpose of the report is to provide assurance and an overview of the current performance of the ALN & Inclusion Service.  He noted that the ALN & Inclusion Service was established in May 2017, as a joint service between Gwynedd Council and the Isle of Anglesey County Council.  The current contract with Gwynedd Council will come to an end on 31 August, 2026, and a consultation process on the service’s structure for this Authority has recently been completed. 

The Senior Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion Service Manager reported that a transitional period currently is undertaking in preparing this Council to provide a new ALN & Inclusion Service for Ynys Môn from September 2026.  She noted that the report provides details of the previous year, and she said that a new funding formula has been introduced in the primary sector for the ALN Service.  Systems are in place to monitor quality within schools to evaluate their own provision.  She highlighted the challenges facing the service and especially with the increase in the demand for the service since the pandemic.  The workload of ALN & Inclusion Service Co-ordinators has seen increased demand within the schools; funding is also a national challenge within the service.  The recruitment of professional staff is also a challenge.  She further said that since the end of 2021, and in partnership with Children’s Service, education hubs have been established within the five secondary schools on Anglesey.  These hubs primarily support year 10 and 11 pupils who are not coping in the mainstream education provision.  A review of this model was commissioned in December 2023, and strengths were identified especially with the integrated/multiagency work that enriches the provision.  There is also close collaboration surrounding hard-to-place learners due to complex emotional and behavioural needs.  She further referred that attendance of pupils is of national concern.  Substantial work has been undertaken to improve attendance over the past year, allocating additional welfare hours through the Welsh Government Attendance Grant to target the attendance improvements of specific individuals within schools.   

The following were points of discussion by the Committee:-

·         Reference was made to the challenges in the training and recruitment of Educational Psychologists and Support Officers has been an issue for several years.  The Chief Executive said that there are currently TUPE procedures been undertaken with the transitional of staff from the current provision between both this Authority and Gwynedd Council.  The Senior Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion Service Manager said that currently the University in Cardiff affords a course for Educational Psychologists; discussions are currently being undertaken with Bangor University on the possibility of the University being able to offer such a course.  She noted that it is still a challenge in recruiting Welsh speaking Psychologists.  Further questions were raised as to whether collaboration will continue with Gwynedd Council.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that collaboration with all North Wales Authorities will be undertaken within the educational sector. 

·         Questions were raised as to the long-term strategy of the Authority to reduce the dependency on Canolfan y Bont, Llangefni and how the Authority ensures that the increase in demand is financially sustainable without undermining the quality of the provision.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the main priority at present is to plan the service provision from September 2026.  The Strategic Lead for ALN, Inclusion and Engagement said that there are challenges to ensure that the service continues, and that children are the forefront of the service provision. 

·         Reference was made that parents are still unaware of the service provision that will be put in place when the new ALN & Inclusion Service will be operational from September.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that whilst the TUPE consultation with staff is currently on-going the service is currently unable to afford parents information at present.   He considered that it is better to communicate with parents when the TUPE consultation has been agreed.  He further said that the schools and the Governing Bodies of schools are aware of the transition of the ALN & Inclusion Service.  Comments were also made that people with experience of a child with ALN needs should be employed within the service.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that whilst accepting that people with experience of a child with ALN needs would be advantages within the service, staff must have the essential criteria and qualifications in the ALN provision. 

·         Questions were raised as to the workload and pressure on ALN Co-ordinators and Welfare Officers within the schools.  The Strategic Lead for ALN, Inclusion and Engagement responded that the work of the ALN Co-ordinators and Welfare Officers is a crucial role in primary schools in preparing pupils to enter the secondary sector.  He noted that a staffing structure has been established and funded when the new service will be established in September 2026. 

·         Questions were raised as to the challenges of recruiting Welsh language Educational Psychologists as the new service will commence in September 2026.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the recruitment of Welsh language Educational Psychologist is a national challenge and discussion are currently being undertaken with Gwynedd Council in respect of collaboration with staff, but due to on-going TUPE consultation details are unable to be afforded at present. 

·         Reference was made to the funding challenges of the ALN Service provision, and a suggestion was made to ask the Leader of the Council to gain support of the WLGA to put pressure on Welsh Government for adequate funding of the service.  The Leader of the Council responded that he has raised concerns as to the funding of the ALN Service before Mr Rhun ap Iorwerth AS was appointed First Minister of the Welsh Government.  He further said that the Executive has afforded an additional £300k into the ALN Service provision. 

·         Reference was made that the current attendance figures for pupils on Anglesey is around 90%.  Questions were raised as to whether the data includes the ALN learners.   The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the data includes all pupils’ attendance in schools on the Island.  The Leader of the Council said that the Council has Hubs within secondary schools, and the Executive has agreed to fund ‘virtual schools’ that support well-being and children who receive care and with ALN needs. 

·         Reference was made that Educational Support staff should also be considered during the transition period with the new ALN & Inclusion Service and retaining these staff without putting additional pressure upon them is important. The Leader of the Council said that funding towards the service should be included within the annual settlement from Welsh Government rather than yearly grant funding. 

·         Questions were raised as to how the Authority intends to assure that the ‘Voice of Service Users, Parents and Carers’ are considered within the new ALN & Inclusion Service.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the continuity of the service from 1 September, 2026 is paramount, and the key aspect is to listen to service users. 

It was RESOLVED to note the update on the ALN & Inclusion Service 2025/2026.