3. Will you provide an update on when the additional learning needs code will be published? OAQ51471

Thank you, Angela. On Monday, I announced our plans for implementing the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Bill, which is at the heart of our ambitious programme to transform the education and support for learners with ALN. The code will be consulted on next year and will be in place by the end of 2019.

Cabinet Secretary, thank you. I welcome the passing of Stage 4 of the additional learning needs Bill yesterday, and noted with interest the statement you issued earlier this week on implementing the new code. However, I would like clarity on the advice that you are providing to local education authorities as to the interim measures that are in place now that the Bill has been passed. I've raised this issue before with previous education Secretaries, because it seems that there is a reluctance by authorities to give out statements because the new system is coming. With the implementation phase not due to be completed until 2023, what assurances can you provide that full support will continue over the intervening years and that local authorities will not row back on providing support for those very vulnerable children?

Only this morning, I met with the leader of the Welsh Local Government Association, and the implementation of the additional learning needs Bill was an item on that agenda. What's absolutely clear is that we are introducing a phased approach, so that we can successfully move from one system to the other. But I've been quite clear in my statement that new children coming into the system, or being newly identified in the system, should be put onto the new programme. They should be put onto the new programme, and what we are looking to transition across are those children who already have a statutory statement of educational needs, focusing at first on those children who are at very important stages in their education, which is usually the move from primary school into secondary school or from secondary school into further or higher education, and that will be a rolling programme. Newly identified children should be put on the new approach.

The Cabinet Secretary will probably be aware of Coleg Elidyr, which is a specialist further education college in my constituency. I was wondering if the Cabinet Secretary would be prepared to look again at amending the terminology used in the draft code to describe institutions like Coleg Elidyr, which is more in line with that which the sector would prefer but also Estyn as well. I'm happy to meet with the Cabinet Secretary to provide some further information, if that's helpful. 

Of course, I'm aware that the Welsh Government funds a number of students to undertake study at Coleg Elidyr, and the whole purpose of the process going forward is that we can work collectively to get the code right, and I would be very pleased to meet with the Member to talk about any concerns that he has. Of course, the code will be subject to full scrutiny by the committee here at the National Assembly and to a vote by the Assembly as a whole. That's the reason why we're going out to consultation so that the code is correct, but if the Member has specific concerns about wording, I'm very happy to look at it.