What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with local authorities about the financial impact of delivering individual development plans for secondary school students?
Since the introduction of the ALN system, there have been on-going discussions with local authorities about the financial impact of delivering individual development plans (IDPs) for all learners with ALN. Since 2020 we have invested over £150 million in revenue to support ALN reforms which includes funding via the LAEG for the development of IDPs.
The Welsh Government continues to significantly increase investment in ALN. The draft 2026-27 budget includes a further £5 million investment to improve national consistency and delivery of ALN provision to meet the needs of children and young people with ALN. It also includes, an additional £3 million to support learners over 16 requiring access to independent specialist post-16 colleges, and £4 million baselined into the local government RSG to reflect our commitment to moving ALN Co-ordinators onto the leadership pay scale.
Extensive engagement with local authorities continues to improve our understanding of ALN system costs and the way in which funding is deployed to deliver ALN provision.