WITH nearly a quarter of all learners in Wales experiencing some form of additional learning needs, I’m pleased Welsh Government have brought forward an Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Bill.

The Bill will introduce a completely new system for children and young people with additional learning needs (ALN) replacing the current system for children classified with special educational needs (SEN) and learning difficulties/disabilities (LDD).

Placing the views of learners and parents at the heart of everything, the Bill will create a single legislative system to support children and young people up to the age of 25 who have ALN offering them equality and access to good education and engagement with their peers.

It’ll support single and transferable plans for learners replacing existing arrangements which very often involve multiple plans for learners as they progress through or move about in their education.

If passed the Bill will place a duty on health boards and local authorities to collaborate with each other to meet the needs of a child or young person’s ALN to ensure they reach their full educational potential.

I’m also very keen for the Bill to include a legal requirement to meet the medical needs of children in schools. I have been working with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Diabetes UK to look at how the Bill could support children with Type 1 Diabetes and other medical conditions in schools. Currently in Wales there is a lot of variation between schools and this needs to change.

Reform of the law covering children and young people with additional learning needs has been a long time coming and it’s absolutely vital that the Welsh Government gets this new legislation right.

The Children, Young People and Education Committee will be responsible for scrutinising the Bill next year. As the Committee Chair I am hopeful that we will hear from as many organisations, education providers, parents/carers and young people with ALN to make sure it’s the best it can possibly be.

The Committee will be running its consultation on the Bill until 24th February 2017. For more information on the Bill and to find out how you can participate in the Committee's consultation please go to www.senedd.assembly.wales.

If you have any views that you would like me to feed in or would like any further information, please contact me: lynne.neagle@assembly.wales or 01495 740022.