Written question WQ85549

Our £499 million Renew and Reform plan, published in June 2021, sought to address the unique challenges faced by different groups of learners and to support their well-being and progression in response to the impact of the pandemic. It includes specific support for children with special educational needs (SEN) with more funding allocated for schools with higher numbers of children with SEN/ALN.

I awarded a £10 million Covid-19 Recovery package to local authorities to support reintegration of pupils with SEN/ALN back into the classroom. This is in addition to a £9.155 million grant to increase provision for complex needs.

In December 2021 an additional £24m package was announced for learners who have been most impacted by the pandemic. £7.5m was to support learners in exam years; £7m towards supporting learners whose attendance has dropped and £9.5m to further education colleges and sixths forms to support young people with their transition and next steps including FE and HE.

We will continue to support learners and schools to deal with the impacts of the pandemic, to support learners’ well-being and progression. This includes:

• £37.5m in 2022-23, £32m in 2023-24 and £23m in 2024-25 to retain and supporting the 1,800 full-time equivalent staff that have been recruited.

• £5.3m to support learner wellbeing and progression in schools

• £7m to support learners with ALN (£7m)

• £2m for additional counselling provision for young people’s mental health;

• £3.5m support to encourage attendance for learners disengaged or at risk of;

• £3.84m for Family Engagement Officers, who will establish positive relationships with parents, and improve attendance

The Education Policy Institute (EPI) found in February 2021 that Wales’ “catch up programmes are far better targeted at their most disadvantaged pupils”. The EPI’s October 2021 report also found that Wales is spending the highest per-pupil in the UK on addressing pandemic impacts in education.

Attendance patterns in Wales are continually reviewed and discussed with stakeholders to gain a comprehensive understanding of the reasons behind non-attendance. Appropriate interventions are then identified that are tailored to the needs/challenges facing particular cohorts, including children and young people with ALN.