Lynne Neagle MS, Cabinet Secretary for Education
It is crucial that we have high‑quality data to understand learners’ needs, plan provision effectively, support the workforce, and identifying where further improvement in required. Our ambition remains to strengthen the evidence base that underpins the ALN system, ensuring that policy and delivery are informed by accurate, consistent and timely data.
This marks the first stage of the wider improvements we are making to statutory data collection systems, so we all have relevant and meaningful ALN data to monitor system performance, meet legislative duties, and support all ALN learners to improve outcomes.
I am pleased to announce that today I have published the Summary of Responses to the consultation on the proposed changes to the data we collect about the additional learning needs (ALN) system in Wales. The 8-week consultation, held from 8 October to 3 December, received 99 responses from parents and carers, the education workforce, local authorities, and wider stakeholders. This strong engagement reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that ALN data collection is robust, comprehensive and supports us to deliver improved outcomes for children and young people in Wales. I would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond.
Our proposals were developed carefully and collaboratively to ensure they reflect the fully implemented ALN system now in place since September 2025, along with the responsibilities of schools, local authorities and non‑school settings.
I welcome the broad support for the majority of the proposals we published. Respondents particularly valued:
- meaningful data items relating to ALN decisions and individual development plans (IDP)
- clearer and more consistent recording of learners’ areas of need
- strengthened information on additional learning provision (ALP) and how it should be recorded
- improved insight into the roles within the education workforce supporting learners with ALN
I remain committed to continued collaboration and careful consideration of these findings as we refine the final changes to the statutory data collections. This will help us strike the right balance between the outcomes we want to achieve, the practicalities of delivery, and the need to maintain clear, manageable processes for schools and local authorities.
The intention is to lay the changes during this Senedd term, and I will provide further communication at that time.
The Summary of Responses is now available here and on the Welsh Government website. Thank you again to everyone who took part in the consultation, your voices are helping to shape the future of ALN data in Wales, strengthening our collective ability to support learners to thrive and reach their full potential.