News

New programme of support announced for Additional Learning Needs

Published

2 weeks ago

December 3, 2025

A PACKAGE of support designed to help learners and families navigate the Additional Learning Needs (ALN) system has been announced, following a review of ALN legislation, listening to families and learnt lessons from delivery across Wales.

This includes a new ALN parent and carer toolkit, which has been published and developed collaboratively with parents, carers, and professionals. The toolkit provides a range of resources to explain how the ALN system works, outlines the support available for children, young people and parents, as well as setting out their rights under ALN legislation.

The toolkit and all supporting materials are available in accessible formats, including BSL and Easy Read and available in English and Welsh.

The Education Secretary has also announced more national support for schools, colleges, and local authorities to increase consistency of delivery, and a consultation on a new national ALN data set to understand national performance and inform improvement.

A further £8.2m in funding will also be allocated this year to local authorities, education settings and colleges to improve delivery of ALN reforms.

This is in addition to £150 million revenue invested over the last 4 years to help key partners implement the ALN system and lead whole-school strategies to embed inclusive education, as well as more than £170 million capital funding to improve facilities and infrastructure for ALN learners through the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.

The Cabinet Secretary recently visited Pencaerau Primary school, to speak to teachers, staff and parents to discuss Additional Learning Needs provision, alongside seeing the new Specialist Resource Base.

An independent review of ALN advocacy provision across Wales has also been confirmed. This important review will help strengthen support for children, young people, and their families. Gareth Morgans has been announced as the independent lead of the review. Gareth brings extensive experience in public service evaluation, policy analysis, and stakeholder engagement within the education sector. His previous roles include Director of Education and Children’s Services at Carmarthenshire County Council, and he has a strong background in school leadership, inclusion, and local authority education services.

Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle said: “What matters to me is that we have an education system where all learners’ needs are understood and responded to with the right support in place.

“I am pleased that Gareth Morgans will be undertaking the review of the ALN advocacy provision to help amplify the voice of parents and carers.”

“The new toolkit responds directly to parents and carers who have asked for clearer, simpler and more consistent information about the ALN system”.

“This review and toolkit is part of an initial programme of support aimed at strengthening support for children, young people, and their families, ensuring they are empowered and well-informed throughout their ALN journey”.

One of the parents who has collaborated in producing the new toolkit, said: “When my eldest child started to struggle in school, I didn’t know what the process was or what I could do to help him. I searched for advice as you do but there was so much conflicting information out there. Having this toolkit would have been really helpful at the beginning to help me understand the process”.

News

Pembroke Dock man sent to Crown Court over alleged ABH assault

Published

9 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Charge relates to incident in the town last weekend

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been sent to the Crown Court for trial after appearing before magistrates accused of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Darren Markes, aged 47, of High Street, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Markes is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act.

The charge relates to an alleged incident on Friday (Dec 13) in Pembroke Dock, when it is alleged that Markes assaulted a woman, causing her actual bodily harm.

No plea was entered at the hearing.

Due to the seriousness of the allegation, magistrates declined jurisdiction and ordered that the case be sent to the Crown Court for trial under the Crime and Disorder Act.

Markes was remanded on conditional bail. Conditions include:

Not contacting a witness, directly or indirectly
Reporting to Pembroke Dock police station every Wednesday between 12:00pm and 2:00pm
Living and sleeping each night at his home address

He is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Jan 16) at 9:30am for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Crime

Aberystwyth man denies criminal damage charge over Cardigan gallery window

Published

9 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Alleged incident said to have taken place on Bridge Street

AN ABERYSTWYTH man has denied a charge of criminal damage relating to an alleged incident in Cardigan.

Ricky Myers, aged 27, of Jasper House, Aberystwyth, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard that Myers is accused of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act 1971.

The charge relates to an incident on Saturday (Aug 24, 2024) at Manchester House on Bridge Street, Cardigan, where it is alleged that a window at the Cardigan Gallery was damaged. The property is said to belong to Peter Austin.

Myers pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

Magistrates adjourned the case for further case management, and Myers was remanded on conditional bail, with a condition that he live and sleep each night at his home address.

He is due to return to court at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 17) at 2:00pm.

Crime

Pembroke Dock man remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on string of offences

Published

9 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Court Reporter

Harassment charge and three assaults among cases listed for Llanelli court

A PEMBROKE DOCK man has been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing after admitting a series of offences, including harassment and assaults.

Tony Brundrett, aged 21, of Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Monday (Dec 15).

The court heard Brundrett has pleaded guilty to harassment without violence, contrary to the Protection from Harassment Act. The charge alleges that between Tuesday (Sep 17) and Thursday (Oct 31) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, he pursued a course of conduct amounting to harassment of a female, including attending her home address and contacting her by text message.

He has also admitted assault by beating against the same female, alleged to have taken place on Wednesday (May 21) at Spring View, Pembroke Dock, and a further assault by beating against a second female on Thursday (Oct 30), also at Spring View.

Magistrates were additionally told that Brundrett faces a further allegation of common assault against a third female, said to have occurred on Tuesday (Dec 9) at Kavanagh Court, Pembroke Dock. No plea was recorded to that matter in the register entry.

Brundrett has also pleaded guilty to a number of offences linked to an incident in Haverfordwest on Saturday (Nov 16). These include:

Aggravated vehicle taking, involving a Vauxhall Corsa, with damage caused before recovery
Using a motor vehicle without insurance
Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence
Criminal damage, involving a window belonging to Pembrokeshire County Council

He was remanded in custody, with the next hearing listed at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Dec 31) at 10:00am.