A NEW website, providing help and information for parents, teachers and professionals involved in supporting children and young people with Additional Learning Needs (ALN), has been launched in Pembrokeshire.
Run by the County Council’s Inclusion Service, the website is divided into four main sections headed:
- Support and Provision for ALN
- Parent Partnership Services
- Resources
- Pupil Voice and Wellbeing
The website contains information for families about local events, parent networks and drop-ins providing the opportunity to meet with local support teams of specialists.
It also tells the touching story of Eliza and her inspiring journey as she began her schooling in Johnston Primary under the headship of Gareth Jones.
Other local young people such as Freya, Jack, Siana, Mair and Jamie are also featured and have important stories to tell on what is important to them in overcoming dyspraxia, dyslexia and autism
Many of them attended the launch in County Hall, Haverfordwest, on Wednesday (May 15) along with Scarlet’s rugby players, Simon Gardiner – himself dyslexic – and Josh Helps.
The County Council’s new Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Guy Woodham, described how proud he was of the remarkable achievements of the children and young people in Pembrokeshire with additional needs.
He said he was especially pleased to learn that the outcomes for children and young people with ALN were consistently higher in the County than over half of the local authorities in Wales over the last two and three years.
Councillor Woodham added: “This website in an invaluable tool and provides professionals and families with a wide range of early screening, classroom strategies, resources as well as things that can help in the home.”
Nicola Jones, the Council’s Head of Inclusion, Disability and Wellbeing, said that early identification and intervention strategies had allowed the Authority to make significant strides in meeting the needs of youngster with ALN.
She said: “With the joined up offer of support and provision in schools, it means more children’s needs are being met within the classroom.
“There are now 24 per cent of learners with additional needs compared to 31% in 2012, with only 8 per cent compared to 18 per cent with complex needs.”
Describing his own experience, Haverfordwest-born rugby prop forward Simon said: “Teachers didn’t really understand my dyslexia when I was at school. They thought I was naughty or just wasn’t trying. I really loved maths and science, but when it came to putting anything on paper, I really struggled.
“If teachers had more understanding of dyslexia, they would have been able to help me more. That’s why this website is a good thing, because there is a lot of information there.
“I would especially recommend this website to parents. It’s a great way to point them in the right direction to get advice and find out more. Now teachers seem to know more about dyslexia and what to look for.”
The Council’s Chief Executive, Ian Westley added that although he recognised the Authority had one of the highest rates of exclusion, he was delighted that already the new approach was having a significant impact in reducing that number.
The website address is: https://pembsinclusionservice.wales/
To speak to someone directly about your child’s additional needs, contact the helpline on 01437 776354 or email [email protected]
