Agenda item

Ffion Edwards Ellis (Assistant Head of Department: Special Educational Needs and Incusion) to present the report.

The report was submitted by the Assistant Head: Special Educational Needs and Inclusion.

Members of the Forum were reminded of the need to allocate ALN funding based on needs and a formula rather than the Moderation Panel, following the lead of several other Local Authorities who had already taken this step. It was explained that this would lead to a more equitable system because the same formula would be used for all schools. It was clarified that this was based on using existing data. It was noted that they expected this change to provide greater security for schools, leading to creating job stability for assistants.

The Forum members were updated on the work that was taking place up to the end of March 2025.

It was explained that a transition period had been identified where a net had been set so that no school would see an increase or decrease of more than 50% to its current budget for the first year of the system. It was confirmed that all schools would fully transition to the system in the following year.

It was confirmed that further modelling, using the final data within the IDP, had been completed before recently releasing schools' projections. It was added that some schools had made contact with officers to confirm the scores that had been noted in the system. It was noted that the Assistant Head would have discussions with the Group Accountant to assess the need to update the figures and distribute them to each school to ensure all schools had the correct figures, or if schools wished to adjust figures.

She reported that they hoped to produce supporting documentation by the end of the term. She noted that schools would be able to use these as a handbook from March 2025 in order to familiarise themselves with the system.

She assured the forum that sessions would be offered to schools so that they could have discussions and receive guidance from officers. She explained that these would be taking place up to mid-February and would focus on ALN funding and its impact.

Matters arising from the discussion:

In response to a query regarding an increase in the ALN budget, the Assistant Head confirmed that there were no arrangements to increase the budget to date. She explained that this was because of financial challenges, but they hoped to receive grants from the Welsh Government to support the provision. It was confirmed that the new system merely adjusted how the budget was allocated rather than changing the total budget available.

A member asked how the new ALN funding arrangement would be reviewed to ensure the budget was being used in the best way for Gwynedd schools and pupils. In response to the enquiry, the Assistant Head confirmed that ongoing review was a statutory requirement, and a review report would be submitted annually when the system was operational. She elaborated that the first review report would be submitted in two years' time to ensure that the transitional period had passed before reviewing the arrangements further. It was emphasised that schools' input was key to the reviews to ensure that all feedback received consideration for the future.

RESOLVED:

To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.