Heolddu Comprehensive

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Additional Learning Needs (ALN)

At Heolddu, we provide inclusive support for students with diverse learning needs. Our experienced teaching assistants work closely with the ALN coordinator and teaching staff to ensure all students can access the curriculum while supporting their emotional well-being and social development.

We take a person-centred approach, placing learners at the heart of planning and reviewing their progress. Our active pupil voice group collaborates with senior leadership to shape ALN provision. Inclusion is driven by excellent classroom practice and regular staff surgeries where best practices and individual needs are discussed.

We also work closely with families and multi-agency partners to provide tailored support for social, emotional, behavioural, medical, and educational needs.

For useful information on ALN reform in Wales, visit:
🔗 ALN Reform | Snap Cymru

For questions or to discuss ALN provision, contact our ALN Coordinator, Miss Cerys Jones:
📞 01443 875531
✉️ CJones@heolddu.org

Academic Support and Interventions

For students not making expected progress, we offer targeted interventions, including but not limited to:

  • Rainbow Readers

  • Phonics intervention

  • Literacy and numeracy support (1:1 or small groups)

  • Teaching assistant support in lessons

  • COMiT and Talkabout communication interventions

  • SpLD mentoring and tuition

  • Lego Therapy

  • 5-point anxiety scale support

  • Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSA)

  • Nurture classes and HUB for pastoral care

  • Access to ICT (laptops, iPads, reader pens)

  • Sensory Room

  • School-based counselling

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

  • Bespoke Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA) support

Next Steps

For the coming academic year, our ALN priorities are:

  • Implement systems and procedures to comply with the new Code of Practice

  • Refine intervention and support programmes to improve student progress and attainment

  • Provide ongoing professional development to enhance ALN provision in all classrooms

We provide a range of inclusive services, catering to students with diverse learning needs. Our team comprises highly experienced and empathetic teaching assistants who collaborate with the ALN coordinator and teaching staff. Their role is to ensure that all students can access the curriculum to the best of their ability while fostering their emotional well-being and social development.

We are strong advocates of inclusion for all, taking a person-centred approach to supporting our pupils. This approach places our learners at the centre of planning and reviewing their support and progress. Additionally, we maintain an active pupil voice group that collaborates closely with the senior leadership team to shape the additional learning support provided to students. We recognise that effective inclusion is achieved through outstanding classroom practices and the facilitation of regular 'staff surgeries' where best practices are shared, and individual learner needs are professionally discussed.

Our commitment extends to working collaboratively with families and the community to support our students. We have established robust and effective relationships with various multi-agency stakeholders, ensuring access to tailored professional support for an array of social, emotional, behavioural, medical, and educational needs.

Academic Support and Interventions

If a student with additional learning needs is not making their expected progress, we offer targeted intervention and whole school initiatives, including, but not limited to:

  • Rainbow Readers
  • Phonics intervention
  • Literacy or numeracy intervention (e.g., 1-2-1 or small groups)
  • Support from teaching assistants in lessons
  • COMiT communications intervention
  • Talkabout communications intervention
  • SpLD mentoring and tuition
  • Lego Therapy
  • 5-point anxiety scale support
  • E.L.S.A. (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants)
  • Nurture classes
  • Access to I.C.T. (e.g. Laptops/iPads/Reader pens etc.)
  • Sensory Room
  • Nurture Hub for pastoral support
  • School-based Counselling
  • C.B.T. (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) 
  • Bespoke E.B.S.A. Support (Emotionally Based School Avoidance)

Next Steps

In the coming academic year, we have the following priorities set for the ALN provision:

  • To adopt systems and procedures to comply with the new code of practice.
  • To further refine the intervention and ALN support programmes to improve the progress, attainment and therefore educational outcomes of students.
  • To offer continued professional development for all staff to further improve ALN provision within all classrooms