How to ask a school to decide whether your child has ALN in Wales

How to make the request

Put the concern in writing so there is a clear record. Explain the learning difficulty or disability you are concerned about, the support already tried, and why you think the child may need provision that is additional to or different from what is generally available.

What the school should do

The school should tell you that it is deciding whether the child has ALN, provide a contact person, explain how to access local information and advice, offer an initial meeting, and give an indication of the likely timescale.

The usual timescale

For a maintained school, Welsh Government guidance states a usual maximum of 35 school days to decide whether the learner has ALN and, if so, prepare and provide an IDP in writing. A local authority decision normally has a 12-week timescale. Limited exceptions can apply when evidence cannot reasonably be obtained in time.

If the school says no

Ask for the decision and reasons in writing. If you disagree with a maintained school’s decision, you can ask the responsible local authority to reconsider it. The local authority normally has 7 weeks to make the reconsideration decision, unless circumstances beyond its control prevent this.