The Additional Learning Needs System

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Education – in the Senedd at 2:10 pm on 25 September 2019.

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Photo of Kirsty Williams Kirsty Williams Liberal Democrat 2:10, 25 September 2019

David, you are absolutely correct. Local education authorities are bound by the law as it stands now, and simply because we are transitioning to a new legislative framework, that does not allow them not to attend to the needs of children who are in the system now. My expectation is that they apply the law to children who have a range of special educational needs as it is currently stated, and they simply cannot leave those children dangling in anticipation of the new legislative regime that is coming into force. I have been very clear in my communications with the Welsh Local Government Association, with education portfolio holders and directors of education, who I met last Friday morning, on my expectations in this regard. They have to follow the law as it currently stands, as we wait to introduce the new law.