What steps is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that the additional learning needs provision and children's mental health are planned in an integrated manner, rather than working in silos?
The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring that additional learning needs (ALN) provision and children’s mental health support are planned and delivered in a coordinated and cohesive way. The ALN system encourages reviewing a learner’s Individual Development Plan (IDP) at the same time as it, or another body, is preparing, reviewing or revising another document for the child or young person. To help co-ordinate provision and support an integrated approach, responsible bodies may also include other documents in the IDP.
Alongside this, we continue to promote the Whole‑School Approach to Emotional and Mental Wellbeing Framework, which schools and local authorities must consider when developing wellbeing action plans and policies. Its flexibility enables settings to tailor support to their school communities, including learners with ALN and those from vulnerable or marginalised groups. More broadly, we remain committed to a whole‑system approach in which education, health and social care work closely together to ensure that support for children with ALN and their mental health is delivered in a coordinated way.