THE NUMBER of children recorded as having additional learning needs has almost halved under Welsh Government reforms due to “systematic underfunding”, a committee warned.

Buffy Williams led a debate on the education committee’s interim report amid a Senedd-long inquiry investigating the Welsh Government’s sweeping changes to educational support.

The additional learning needs (ALN) reforms have been replacing the old special educational needs (SEN) system in phases over four school years from 2021.

Ms Williams, who chairs the committee, said: “So, what have we found? To be blunt, the additional learning needs reforms are not going as planned.”

She raised concerns about a 44% fall in the number of pupils recorded as having SEN or ALN during the transition which is entering its final year.

She told the Senedd: “This reduction appears to be driven by a decrease in the number of pupils identified as having low to moderate SEN or ALN.

“At no point during the passing of the ALN bill did the Welsh Government anticipate that the reforms would almost halve the numbers of children identified as having additional needs.

“In fact, the Welsh Government repeatedly asserted that it would have no impact on the total numbers of children identified as having ALN or SEN.”

Ms Williams said the committee struggled to believe arguments that SEN was previously over-reported or that “universal” provision is sufficiently inclusive.

The reason committee members found most convincing was schools and councils lacking the required resources to give every child an individual development plan.

Ms Williams told the debating chamber or Siambr: “This resourcing shortage is the result of years of systematic underfunding of SEN and ALN provision in schools.”

Tom Giffard, the Conservatives’ shadow education secretary, echoed the Labour committee chair’s comments, warning that too many learners are being left behind.

He said: “In 2016/17, there were 92,000 children recognised as having SEN with low to moderate learning difficulties or disabilities. In 2022/23, that’s nearly halved.

“Now, I can’t realistically believe that there are fewer young people today with additional learning needs than there were less than a decade ago.”

Mr Giffard, a former teaching assistant in a Welsh-language primary school, added: “It’s clear that there are huge elements of the system that are not working.

“And that causes frustration for parents, for pupils, for teachers and others who care about these young people who are not getting the support they need.”

Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru’s shadow education secretary, was similarly greatly concerned by the fall in the number of children receiving support.

Calling for adequate funding, he said: “We can’t let these children and young people down.”

Labour’s Hefin David, who is stepping down from the committee for personal reasons, said he had nothing but praise for the ALN support his daughter has received.

“This system has worked for her,” he said while acknowledging that some parents feel they face a “constant battle” for support for their children.

Dr David, who represents Caerphilly, suggested the difficulty is children in a grey area of diagnosis who sit just outside the statutory support that is available.

He told the Senedd: “Giving them the support is the challenge because their needs are very different and diverse.”

Warning that children are falling under the radar, Laura Anne Jones said the reforms are not clear enough, with Wales’ councils interpreting them in 22 different ways.

She raised the impact on parents, saying: “Many felt very isolated and helpless that they didn’t know how to get the support their children needed, and it’s quite heartbreaking.”

Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan said the committee heard children have been traumatised by a lack of support, leading to high absence levels among some pupils with ALN.

Responding to the debate on October 16, Lynne Neagle, who formally accepted most of the committee recommendations, recognised the challenges.

Wales’ education secretary told the Senedd she has listened to feedback that parts of the legislation, which was passed in 2018, are overly complex and unclear.

Ms Neagle said improving collaboration between health and education is a key priority.

The minister pointed to £107m invested in day-to-day revenue support since 2020, with more than £170m in longer-term capital to improve facilities for pupils with ALN.

She said her officials are reviewing how councils fund mainstream schools, with the aim of identifying how much each delegates for ALN.

Ms Neagle highlighted an extra £5m invested in a pay award for schools’ ALN coordinators.

In closing, she said: “I am determined that meeting the needs of learners with ALN remains at the heart of our education reforms.”

Planning for university is a major financial commitment for students and families in Wales, but with good planning, these costs can be managed. Whether saving early or seeking financial solutions while studying, here are the best options to consider before and during university.

1. Start early with a Junior ISA

A Junior Individual Savings Account (ISA) is a tax-free option for long-term savings. Parents can contribute up to £9,000 annually, with interest or gains being tax-free. Junior ISAs come in two forms: cash ISAs, safer with lower returns, and stocks and shares ISAs, which offer higher growth but carry more risk. Starting early allows savings to grow significantly before university.

2. Scholarships and bursaries for Welsh students

Many Welsh universities offer scholarships and bursaries specifically for Welsh students or those studying in Wales. These can help reduce the need for extra loans, allowing students to allocate their funds towards essential expenses like tuition, living costs, or even services like pay for essay assistance. By using online writers, students can acquire immediate assistance with their work.

Cardiff University, Swansea University, and Aberystwyth University all provide scholarships to help reduce the financial burden on Welsh students. Researching and applying early can significantly lower the amount needed to borrow or save.

3. Student loans and Welsh Government support

The Welsh Government provides extra support for students through Student Finance Wales, offering loans for tuition fees and maintenance, along with grants to help with living expenses.

Welsh students benefit from the Welsh Government Learning Grant, a non-repayable financial aid to help with living costs. The amount depends on household income, with lower-income families receiving more. This reduces reliance on loans, making university more affordable and easing debt after graduation.

4. Help to Save scheme

The UK Government’s Help to Save scheme is ideal for low-income students or parents looking to save. Eligible individuals earn a 50% bonus on savings, meaning for every £1 saved, the government adds 50p. 

Over four years, you can save up to £2,400 and earn up to £1,200 in bonuses—an excellent way to build a university fund, especially for those on working tax credit or Universal Credit.

5. Welsh university hardship funds

If you’re already at university and facing financial difficulties, many Welsh universities offer hardship funds or financial aid to help with urgent needs like rent, bills, or course materials. Each university has its own eligibility criteria, so it’s worth exploring this option if you encounter financial challenges during your studies.

6. Part-time work during university

Many Welsh students take on part-time jobs to help with living costs. Universities in Wales often provide student roles, such as working in libraries, cafés, or administration, designed to fit around academic schedules.

Local jobs in hospitality, retail, or remote work can provide a steady income, with the key being to find flexible roles that don’t interfere with academic performance. Services like the Swansea Employability Academy and similar university programmes help students find suitable part-time work.

Conclusion

For Welsh students and families, saving for university becomes easier with the right approach. Starting early, applying for scholarships, and considering part-time work are crucial steps in reducing the financial burden of higher education. With proper planning, students can manage university costs and secure their financial future.

AT A MEETING of Pembrokeshire County Council on Thursday (Oct 17), councillors were told that there are no current plans to serve insect protein to school children in the county.

Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Guy Woodham, has squashed any idea that the local authority will serve minced meat made from crickets as part of school dinners.

Cllr Woodham’s comments followed a question posed by a member of the public at the Council’s meeting on Thursday, October 17.

Guy Woodham’s answer could not have been clearer.

He told those in the Chamber and those watching on the webcast that the Council had no plans to be involved in the rollout of VEXO (the protein product derived from insects) into school meals. Cllr Woodham added that the Council did not have a contract with VEXO’s supplier to provide that product..

The issue arose following a comment by Dr Sarah Beynon at a biodiversity forum, which suggested that insect protein was a nutritious alternative to regular animal protein and could be rolled out into school meals.

However, Guy Woodham said he could not comment on what was said at the forum because the Council did not participate in it.

Cllr Woodham added that VEXO would be considered a “novel food” subject to authorisation by the Food Standards Authority before being used for human consumption.

As a local authority, the Council would not be able to prevent the lawful use of such products provided the FSA authorised them.

He concluded by reiterating his initial answer: Pembrokeshire County Council has no plans to be involved in the rollout of VEXO.

Before the meeting took place, Dr Beynon disputed saying that ‘mince’ would be ‘rolled out’ to schools, stating: “I did not say this, as it is not true. I explained the exciting development of VEXo insect and plant protein mince with over 2,000 Pembrokeshire school children, teachers, social scientists, nutritionists, Welsh Government and Innovate UK, explaining that VEXO Bolognese was due to be offered on school menus in Pembrokeshire in 2020.

“Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic hit during the same week that we were due to finalise the roll-out with Pembrokeshire County Council. Schools were closed, so it did not go ahead. I mentioned that we are looking forward to revisiting this with Pembrokeshire County Council in the future, but did not put a timeframe on it.”

She added: “We would never force anyone to eat anything they didn’t want to. Pupils are never forced to consume a food – during the previous discussions, it would be offered as a choice on the menu.

“Interestingly, 100 per cent of pupils liked VEXo Bolognese and one of the most wonderful outcomes of in-school workshops we ran was that children said it made them want to learn more about sustainability in schools. It also increased the take-up of school meals.”

“As insects, like crustaceans, are arthropods, those allergic to crustaceans may also be allergic to insects. As with any other food, allergen labelling is vital, and all of our insect-based products are labelled appropriately and allergen information provided to groups who visit us in advance.”

“All plant, fungi and livestock foods have the potential to carry pests, parasites and pesticides that can be harmful to humans. The vital stage in eating them is how they are processed or cooked with industry-standard critical control points reached. Insects are no different. Insects farmed for human food are anaesthetized before being killed (frozen) and are cooked at high temperatures. Full microbiology testing is carried out.

“The fact that the resultant products have a stable ambient shelf life for around two years shows just how low-risk the food product is. Insects used in Bug Farm Foods’ food products are farmed in UK insect farms with the very highest biosecurity standards. Because the industry is relatively new to the UK and Europe, the legislation around farming them has been developed with modern understanding of biosecurity and animal welfare, meaning that it is some of the most up-to-date in the world.

“VEXo was specifically developed, here in Pembrokeshire, to tackle issues related to childhood obesity and nutrition gaps in growing young people. It contains about 80 per cent less saturated fat than a conventional meat-based Bolognese and is high in iodine, which is often low in teenage girls’ diets. Insects contain highly digestible protein, contain all essential amino acids, heme iron and a really good ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.”