Newsletter Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion

FOR THE ATTENTION OF: HEADTEACHERS AND ALN&I CO-ORDINATORS

Welcome to the Easter Edition (2017) of the ALN&I Co-ordinators Newsletter. A key objective of

the ALN&I Review is improving Communication. It is therefore intended that this newsletter provides you with an up-date of any changes that occur in this field in Gwynedd & Anglesey or

nationally.

yh ADYaCh d I. 1. General Up-date (Strategy and Legislation)

I. The Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion Strategy (ALN&I)

Meetings have been held with the staff who are involved in the re-structuring to establish the New ALN&I Service for Gwynedd and Isle of Anglesey. Over 100 staff of the relevant Services attended the 2 open meetings held on 5 October and 6 December 2016; meetings with the relevant Unions were also held during the same period.

We are now in the working through the appointments process, and as already confirmed, Gwern ap Rhisiart has been appointed Senior Inclusion Manager and Dr Einir Thomas as Senior ALN Manager; to work across both LEA’s. From the 1st April 2017, we kindly request that you refer matters pertaining to Inclusion matters in Gwynedd and Isle of Anglesey schools to Gwern and ALN related matters to Einir. Gwern ap Rhisiart: 01286 679007 [email protected] Dr Einir Thomas: 01248 752970 [email protected]

ALN Responsibility (Einir)

Inclusion Responsibility (Gwern)

4 new ALN&I Quality Officers have also been appointed, these officers will support the 2 Senior Managers to implement the ALN&I strategies, and provide managerial advice and support for headteachers and governing bodies. They will respond to enquiries and disputes between parents/schools and agencies; as well as monitor quality of ALN and Inclusion, ensuring consistent implementation across both LEAs. The four will be operation in their posts on 1 September 2017. The four are:

Non Hobday - Isle of Anglesey Haf Roberts - East Gwynedd Lora Glynwen - West Gwynedd Clare Trappe - South Gwynedd

We are also currently in the process of appointing an Inclusive Education Leader and Principal Educational Psychologist to complete the ALN&I Management Team.

The remaining posts will be filled through a combination of interviews and ‘slotting’ into similar posts, and perhaps a small number will opt to leave. The aim is to ensure that the full structure is in place and operational on 1 September 2017.

II. Legislation – Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal Bill (Wales) Ar 12 December 2016, the above-mentioned Bill was presented to the National Assembly.

Expert groups met with the Welsh Government in Cardiff at the end of March to scrutinize specific matters for the transition. Gwern participated in these discussions, and after attending – is very confident that our ALN&I Strategy and the core work of promoting person-centred methods, and presenting an electronic template of the IDP places us at the vanguard throughout Wales.

III. Cluster Co-ordinators (Pilot) We have already noted that it is intended to pilot Cluster Co-ordinators for clusters of schools, where it would not be of benefit/possible to expect the curent co-ordinator to take on all the additional responsibilities tied to the new legislation. An ALN Innovation Grant allocation has been received from the Welsh Government, and two have already been appointed on a 4 term secondment to trial the post: Judith Owen – Ysgol Botwnnog catchment-area Heather Roberts – Ysgol Bodedern catchment-area

2. Person-centred Reviews

I. Raising Awareness: It was decided early in September 2016 that there was a need to focus on promoting use of person-centred methods to hold all Reviews of Statemented pupils. There were exceptions e.g. Year 11 pupils and if the reviews had already been organised before the message had been disseminated. An instruction was sent to every school as well as a letter and pamphlet for the schools to send to the parents. Specific training was arranged for specialist and middle tier staff of both LEA’s to ensure that they could support the Co-ordinators within the schools to hold the Reviews using this method. The Welsh Government again allocated a grant this year for this purpose.

We have also created an ‘animate’ video to share with the parents, explaining the new Review procedure. Unfortunately, due to technical problems, we have had difficulty in completing the Welsh version. However, we will send you the Welsh and English versions after Easter to share with parents and perhaps install on your school’s website. We will also share it on the usual social media websites. 2

In addition, the Head of every school in Gwynedd and Anglesey have been invited to attend a half day session to raise awareness of the person-centred methods; the Individual Development Plan, and the self-evaluation document “Developing as a person-centred organisation”. (A document in which Gwynedd Council had a prominent role in preparing for the Welsh Government.) 7 sessions were held at 7 different locations during January – February 2017. It should be noted that only around 70 took advantage of the opportunity. A full day session was also held for our welfare officers, where the 15 officers had an opportunity to attend.

II. Training Following a ‘catch up’ session held with the ‘Facilitators’ at the end of March – it was highlighted that there was a discrepancy in terms of the co-ordinators confidence to use and trial the new review methods. It was noted that it was a core requirement that schools notify the LEA of any change to the Co-ordinator’s post so as to ensure appropriate support and training. The need was also highlighted for more training in creating the outcomes and targets within the Excel aspect of the IDP. The need for specific training on PLASC scoring was also highlighted.

We are already organising specific training, in May led by our Educational Psychologists, these will be interactive sessions, with examples of both good and bad practice for discussion, as well as the opportunity to input information into the electronic version of the IDP. * Please ensure that you note one of the following dates in your calendar, you will receive more information after Easter.

Area Catchment Date Time Location Arfon YSHO, Brynrefail, YDO 10 May Morning To be confirmed Arfon Tryfan, Friars 10 May Afternoon To be confirmed Dwyfor Botwnnog, Glan y Môr 12 May Morning To be confirmed Dwyfor Eifionydd, YDN 12 May Afternoon To be confirmed Meirionnydd Moelwyn, Ardudwy 17 May Morning To be confirmed Meirionnydd Tywyn, Berwyn, Gader 17 May Afternoon To be confirmed Môn Caergybi, Bodedern, Llangefni 23 May Morning Ysgol Bodedern Môn YSTJ, YDH, Llangefni 23 May Afternoon Ysgol David Hughes

III. Co-ordinators Website: We wish to remind you of the specific website that has been created and is regularly up-dated, and contains details of the e-learning packages as well as a link to the latest version of the IDP and instructions on how to complete them. www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/cydlynwyradyach

IV. Schools’ procedures - Person-centred planning We ask everybody to adhere as closely as possible to our template for the one page profile and the Individual Development Plan (IDP). The latest copy is available on the website (see above).

Sinces September 2016, every school are expected to follow the steps below for planning provision for pupils placed on the ALN&I register:

Provision Information gathering method Action Method of Plan Presentation/Requests School Action – School IDP One page profile IDP Internal –school only School Action Plus – One page profile for the majority, an element IEP Request to the forum if within the School IDP of IDP criteria Forum IDP Full IDP (via review) IDP Request to the forum if within the criteria 3

Authority IDP Full IDP (via review) IDP Usual forms – Moderation Panel

bod n treialu hyn yn electroneg cyn diwedd tymor yr ‘Ryhaf. 3. Forum/ Panel Dates

Below are the dates already agreed for Forums / Moderation Panels. We will share more information with you soon regarding the new arrangements from September 2017 onwards.

Please note that we expect all applications to have reached the authority at lesast a week in advance.

Gwynedd Date Closing Date for applications Moderation Panel 3 May 26 April Medical Forum 10 May 3 May Beahviour Forum Arfon 12 June 5 June Beahviour Forum Meirion/ Dwyfor 15 June 8 June Communication and Interaction Forum 21 June 14 June Specific ALN Forum 26 June 19 June Môn Date Closing Date for applications Provision Panel 9 May 2 May Moderation Panel 24 May 17 May Moderation Panel Early Years 26 June 19 May Medical Forum 9 June 2 June EOTAS Panel 23 June 16 June Moderation Panel 12 July 5 July

4. Co-ordinators Forums

Two Forums were held on 11 November 2016, one for Meirion/ Dwyfor and the other for Arfon/ Anglesey. An up- date was provided on the ALN&I Strategy and the intention to pilot Cluster Co-ordinators for a specific period. We used the rest of the session to give a simple overview of the procedure of conducting a review using the new approach. The latest version of the electronic IDP was shown, we discussed how to prepare for reviews, what to do during the meeting and the steps to follow after the meeting. There was an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the new methods

Happy Easter!

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