Education

Welsh Government ‘asleep at wheel’ on ‘flawed’ ALN reforms

Published

8 months ago

October 17, 2025

A CONSERVATIVE politician has accused ministers of being “asleep at the wheel” as long-standing problems persist with Wales’ additional learning needs reforms.

Natasha Asghar, the Tory shadow education secretary, warned pupils are being let down by the Welsh Government’s “fundamentally flawed” additional learning needs (ALN) shake-up.

Ms Asghar expressed concerns about pupils “slipping through the cracks”, with statistics showing a drastic drop in the number of pupils receiving support.

She said: “My biggest concern right now is there’s been a 53% decrease in the number of pupils being identified as having ALN over the four years since the system was introduced.

“That fall – from more than 92,500 pupils to just under 44,000 – comes at the same time the Welsh Government acknowledges more children are presenting with more complex needs.”

Ms Asghar, who represents South Wales East, warned of workload pressures, a lack of funding and long waiting lists for children’s autism or ADHD assessments.

Her comments came after a Welsh Government review of the ALN legislative framework warned of challenges centred on practical implementation, clarity and consistency.

Lynne Neagle – Wales’ education secretary – hit back at the Tory opposition’s criticism, telling the Senedd: “I certainly don’t accept that I have been asleep at the wheel.”

She added: “This is a really complex issue and we have to do this right. I would have loved to have sorted it all out in three weeks after I came into post… but we have to get this right.”

In her statement on October 14, Ms Neagle announced a further £8.2m this year for councils, education settings and colleges to improve delivery of the ALN programme.

She said more than 32,000 pupils have an individual development plan, more than under the previous special educational needs (SEN) system, but she accepted that children on lower levels of SEN support have not all transferred to the new system.

Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru’s shadow education secretary, urged the Welsh Government to take urgent steps to address inconsistencies and gaps by amending the ALN code.

He suggested ALN training should be mandatory for teachers and assistants, as part of ongoing professional development as well as initial teacher education.

The former lecturer told the Senedd: “Without urgent action, the promise of the ALN reforms will remain unfulfilled and the most vulnerable learners will continue to be let down by a system that lacks the capacity, clarity and consistency they deserve.”

Ms Neagle warned of a lack of time to amend the ALN code before the Senedd term ends in May but she committed to laying the groundwork for a new government.

Buffy Williams, who chairs the Senedd’s education committee, also questioned the huge fall in the number of children who are recognised as having ALN.

“Children only get one chance at school, so it’s essential that all children get the support they need so they can thrive,” she said. “Sadly, this is not the case for too many children.”

Ms Neagle told her Labour colleague that inconsistency is why the top priority is to clarify the definitions of ALN through forthcoming guidance.

Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan warned families face a fight for their children’s educational rights as she raised concerns about a “postcode lottery” for Welsh-language support.

Pressed about funding, Ms Neagle said: “I’m not going to hide either from the fact that there are huge resourcing pressures in schools at the moment and ALN is a very big part of that.”

Education

Pembrokeshire school wins national climate innovation award

Published

3 days ago

June 25, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi praised for pioneering ideas to protect rivers, wildlife and the environment

A PEMBROKESHIRE school has been recognised at a prestigious Wales-wide climate awards ceremony after pupils impressed judges with innovative ideas to tackle biodiversity loss and water pollution.

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi was named the winner of the Protect and Restore Nature category in Keep Wales Tidy’s Climate Challenge Cymru competition, inspired by The Earthshot Prize.

The school earned the award for a series of creative environmental solutions, including proposals for solar-powered systems designed to help protect rivers and lakes while improving local biodiversity.

Pupils and staff travelled to Cardiff to receive the award during a special ceremony held on Wednesday (June 17), where they were presented with their trophy by ecologist and nature campaigner Joe Wilkins.

Climate Challenge Cymru invited primary and secondary schools from across Wales to submit short videos showcasing innovative ideas to tackle one of five major environmental challenges, known as the Earthshots. These included creating a waste-free world, improving air quality, tackling climate change, protecting nature and restoring the world’s oceans.

The Pembrokeshire school’s winning entry stood out for its imaginative approach to protecting natural habitats and improving water quality through sustainable technology.

Lucy Vaughan, Geography Teacher and Leader of Pupil Voice at Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, said: “I have been so impressed with all of the amazing entries that have been shared at this prestigious event and am immensely proud of our pupils for winning this challenge.

“The creativity, passion, teamwork and commitment they have shown have been truly inspiring. Their innovative ideas and determination to make a positive difference for the environment give me real hope for the future.”

Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive Owen Derbyshire praised the standard of entries from schools across Wales.

He said: “It has been a privilege to spend the day at Climate Challenge Cymru, surrounded by the ideas and ambition of young people from right across Wales.

“The projects on display are a testament not only to their creativity but to their resolve to make a real difference in Wales and beyond. Seeing the next generation lead with such confidence gives me every reason to be optimistic about what lies ahead.”

The competition is organised by Keep Wales Tidy’s Eco-Schools team in partnership with the Welsh Government and is inspired by The Earthshot Prize, the international environmental initiative launched by Prince William to encourage practical solutions to the world’s biggest environmental challenges.

The success of Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi highlights the growing role Pembrokeshire’s young people are playing in developing innovative ideas to tackle environmental issues, particularly those affecting the county’s rivers, coastline and wildlife.

Photo caption: Award winners: Pupils from Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi celebrate after winning the Protect and Restore Nature category at the Climate Challenge Cymru awards in Cardiff, alongside Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive Owen Derbyshire (left) and ecologist Joe Wilkins (right).

Education

Welsh-medium provision to be expanded in some urban areas of Carmarthenshire

Published

4 days ago

June 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CYMDEITHAS YR LAITH has welcomed Carmarthenshire County Council’s decision to expand Welsh-medium education provision in some of the county’s urban areas.

The Council’s Education, Young People and Welsh Language Scrutiny Committee approved a recommendation to consult on making a regulated change to Welsh-language provision in the following primary schools: Ysgol Bro Banw, Ysgol Griffith Jones, Ysgol Llangynnwr, and Ysgol Llandybie. The decision will go before the Cabinet on Monday (29/06/2026) for final approval.

A spokesperson for Cymdeithas yr Iaith’s Carmarthenshire Region said: “We are very pleased that the Council intends to expand Welsh-medium education provision in these schools, moving closer to the goal of ensuring that no pupil is deprived of the ability to work and communicate confidently in both languages.

“We particularly welcome the changes at the large urban school, Ysgol Bro Banw. However, we seek clarification regarding the decision to introduce bilingual provision at the school, rather than converting it into a fully Welsh-medium school. Research shows that Welsh-medium education is the only way to ensure bilingualism among young people.

“It is worth noting that there are seven bilingual primary schools in the county, in addition to those mentioned in the report, and several of these provide only Welsh-medium education during the Foundation Phase. We therefore encourage the Council to continue the work of converting all these bilingual schools into Welsh-medium schools and to address gaps in Welsh-medium education provision in areas such as the south-west of the county and the town of Carmarthen as well.

“At the same time, we are disappointed that the Council is removing Welsh-medium education from our rural communities. Although they are increasing capacity in St Clears, they are simultaneously losing Welsh-medium capacity in the area through their plans to close Ysgol Meidrim. We therefore call for a new and sustainable strategy for rural education.”

The spokesperson added: “We look forward to the Council’s next announcement, when the names of four additional schools will be revealed. Nevertheless, it is disappointing that we have to wait until the autumn for that announcement. We respectfully ask the Council to accelerate the process in order to prevent the ongoing injustice whereby pupils are being deprived of the ability to communicate and work in Welsh as well as English.”

Education

Milford Haven School issues heatwave update as temperatures soar

Published

4 days ago

June 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MILFORD HAVEN SCHOOL has thanked pupils and staff for the way they have supported one another during the current heatwave.

The school said cooperation and care across the school community had been greatly appreciated.

With tomorrow (Jun 25) forecast to be the hottest day of the current spell, pupils are being asked to come prepared by bringing plenty of water, wearing sunscreen, and staying as protected from the sun as possible.

Pupils will also be permitted to wear their PE kit to help keep cool.

The school said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and take all necessary steps to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of pupils and staff.