Additional learning needs: Decision-making process

1. What is an additional learning need?

A learner has additional learning needs if they have a learning difficulty or disability that calls for additional learning provision (ALP). A child or young person of compulsory school age has a learning difficulty/disability if they have:

• a significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of others of the same age, and/or
• a disability for the purposes of the equality act 2010 which prevents or hinders him or her from making use of facilities for education or training of a kind generally provided for others of the same age in mainstream maintained school.

A child under compulsory school age has a learning difficulty or disability if he or she is likely to (or would be likely to if no additional learning provision were made) have significantly greater difficulty in learning than the majority of their peers when they reach compulsory school age.

It is possible for a child or young person to have a learning difficulty or disability that does not call for additional learning provision. Schools can help through an inclusive curriculum and may need to take action to help the learner make progress.  Not all learning difficulties or disabilities that arise from a medical condition will require an additional learning provision.

If a school has concerns about a learner, they will contact you to discuss further. Alternatively, families and carers may contact the school directly or through our Parent Partnership Service.  Identification of additional learning needs will be based upon collaborative decisions involving families and professionals in a person-centred meeting.