Additional Learning Needs Support

Part of 4. Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 4:10 pm on 14 March 2023.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Russell George Russell George Conservative 4:10, 14 March 2023

Thank you for your answer, Minister, and, of course, I heard your answer to Laura Anne Jones on this earlier on as well. Through casework, an issue that I'm picking up is that there appear to be some children with potential additional learning needs when they relocate from England into Wales, and there are some difficulties in regard to delayed assessments, which, of course, are required in order for them to receive the support they need for their education. Clearly, that is detrimental to the child when that occurs. So, can I ask what the Welsh Government is doing to help and support local authorities to provide a smooth transition for ALN assessment to ensure that a child receives ALN support in a timely manner, but also that there's parity of funding as well? So, my particular issue is concern around when an assessment may start in England, and then a child in the middle of that process is moving into Wales, to ensure that there's support for local authorities in that process.