Motivation and learning.

When anxiety keeps a child from school: support in Wales

When Anxiety Keeps a Child from School: Support in Wales If a child’s anxiety makes school feel impossible, you are not alone, and you are not without options. In Wales, the law and local support systems recognise that emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA) is not defiance or “naughtiness,” but a sign that something deeper needs to be understood and addressed with care. Many families feel overwhelmed, especially when school staff seem unsure or when anxiety escalates at home. This guide is for you, a gentle roadmap through a tough moment, filled with practical steps and reassurance. 🛑 How Do I Get My Child Referred to CAMHS in Wales? This is one of the most common questions parents ask, and the answer depends slightly on where you live and what your child's current education setting is. In Wales, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) referrals can be made by : Your GP (this is still the most common route) Your child’s school (via the ALNCo or school counse...

How to Deregister from a Welsh School: A Step-by-Step Guide for ALN Families

How to Deregister from a Welsh School: A Step-by-Step Guide for ALN Families Parents and carers in Wales have a legal right to educate their children at home through elective home education (EHE) — school attendance is not compulsory. The Education Act 1996 (Section 7) states that parents must ensure their child receives an "efficient full-time education suitable to their age, ability and any ALN, either by regular attendance at school or otherwise." For many families, home education is a proactive, philosophical choice. For others, it becomes the only viable option when a school cannot meet a child’s needs. This guide walks you through the legal process of deregistration in Wales and offers practical advice tailored to families of children with Additional Learning Needs (ALN). Mainstream vs Special School: Why It Matters First, confirm whether your child attends a mainstream school or a maintained special school . The process differs significantly: Mainstream School : You...

Elective Home Education in Wales for Children with ALN: Tailored Approaches and Success Stories

Elective Home Education in Wales for Children with ALN: Tailored Approaches and Success Stories Elective home education (EHE) is becoming increasingly common in Wales, especially among families of children with Additional Learning Needs (ALN). In the 2024/25 school year, over 7,000 children were recorded as home educated in Wales, ( crossroads.wales ) . A significant number of these learners have ALN, reflecting a trend where mainstream schools sometimes struggle to meet their needs( gov.wales gov.wales ) . Parents are turning to home education as a way to provide a more suitable, personalized learning environment for their children. This article explores how home education can be tailored to the specific needs of children with ALN in Wales, what the Welsh context means for families legally and practically, and highlights several real-life success stories of home-educated young people pursuing further education and careers. Why Families Choose Home Education for ALN Children ...

ALN in Wales: Will the New £8.2 Million and Parent Toolkit Deliver Real Change?

ALN in Wales: Will the New £8.2 Million and Parent Toolkit Deliver Real Change? In October 2025, the Welsh Government announced new funding and measures to strengthen support for children and young people with Additional Learning Needs (ALN). The announcement included: £8.2 million in additional funding for local authorities, schools, and colleges A new national Parent and Carer Information Toolkit Guidance to make ALN delivery more consistent across Wales Promises of closer working between education, health, and social care At Learn Without Limits CIC , we welcome any steps towards improving outcomes. But we also ask the tough questions: will this change anything for the families living on the sharp edge of the system today? The Numbers Don’t Lie When the ALN Act was introduced, projections suggested around 22% of Welsh pupils might be identified as having ALN. But in practice, identification under the new Individual Development Plan (IDP) system has been fa...

Why So Many Disabled Children Mask at School and Break Down at Home

Why So Many Disabled Children Mask at School and Break Down at Home Learn Without Limits CIC – November 2025 Parents across Wales describe the same confusing experience. Teachers say their child is “fine”. Polite, quiet, compliant, coping. But at home, everything collapses. The child comes through the door and: cries shuts down lashes out clings to their parent refuses to speak melts down withdraws This is not naughtiness. It is not poor parenting. It is not a choice. It is masking , and for some children, it is masking plus code switching , a combination almost nobody talks about in Welsh ALN spaces. This article builds on our recent pieces on: anxiety in Welsh children , and bullying and emotional distress Because masking sits beneath both. What masking actually is Masking means hiding distress, copying peers, and suppressing natural reactions to appear “fine”. A child who masks may: force eye contact stay silent eve...

IDP Series: School vs LA IDPs | Cyfres CTP: CTP Ysgol vs ALl

School IDPs, LA IDPs, EHE and EOTAS — What Every Parent in Wales Needs to Know 1. What Is the Difference Between a School-Maintained and an LA-Maintained IDP? Under the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 (“ ALNET Act ”), only one body at a time can legally maintain a child’s Individual Development Plan ( IDP ): • School – when needs can reasonably be met within school resources • Local Authority ( LA ) – when needs go beyond school capacity, or when EOTAS is being considered Legal basis: ALNET Act 2018, sections 10–14 ALN Code 2021 , Chapters 11–13 2. Why Schools Often Do Not Escalate to the LA (Without Criticising Staff) Parents frequently ask: “Why won’t the school pass this to the LA when they clearly can’t meet needs anymore?” Here are the real-world reasons, framed respectfully. Reason 1 – Fear that escalation appears as “failure” Many ALNCos feel responsible for solving everything, even when needs exceed their remit. But es...

What the ALN Numbers Really Say – and Why Parents Are Right to Be Concerned

What the ALN Numbers Really Say – and Why Parents Are Right to Be Concerned In October 2025 , the Welsh Government announced new funding and measures to strengthen support for children and young people with Additional Learning Needs (ALN). The announcement included: £8.2 million in additional funding for local authorities, schools, and colleges A new national Parent and Carer Information Toolkit Guidance to make ALN delivery more consistent across Wales Promises of closer working between education, health, and social care At Learn Without Limits CIC , we welcome any steps towards improving outcomes. But we also ask the tough questions: will this change anything for the families living on the sharp edge of the system today? The Numbers Don’t Lie When the ALN Act was introduced, projections suggested around 22% of Welsh pupils might be identified as having ALN. But in practice, identification under the new Individual Development Plan (IDP) system has been far l...

WHY YEAR 10 IS THE REAL STARTING POINT FOR FE COLLEGE PLANNING IN WALES

WHY YEAR 10 IS THE REAL STARTING POINT FOR FE COLLEGE PLANNING IN WALES A Parent Guide with Evidence from Welsh ALN Law and System Realities For years, families in Wales have been told that transition planning for Further Education takes place in Year 11 . On paper, it sounds simple and reassuring. But for ALN families , waiting until Year 11 is often the single biggest factor behind failed transitions , broken placements , and delays in support . The truth is this: ⭐ Year 10 is the safest, most realistic, and legally aligned starting point for FE transition. This article explains why, what the law says, where the system falls down, and what parents can do to protect their child’s future. For deeper context, you can also read our earlier article: 👉 Navigating the Post 16 Pathway in Wales https://learnwithoutlimitscic.blogspot.com/2025/11/navigating-post-16-pathway-in-wales.html ⭐ What the ALN Law and ALN Code Actually Say A few key quotations from the ALN Code for...

Common Terminology & the Law in Wales (2025 Edition)

Common Terminology & the Law in Wales (2025 Edition) Learn Without Limits CIC This guide explains some of the most frequently used terms and legal concepts that ALN families in Wales may encounter. It has been updated to reflect the latest Welsh Government legislation, especially the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 and the ALN Code for Wales 2021 . ALN – Additional Learning Needs This is now the legal term in Wales (replacing SEN ). Any child or young person with a significantly greater difficulty in learning than their peers or a disability that prevents or hinders access to education may have ALN. The ALN system has fully replaced the SEN framework in most settings under the phased rollout between 2021–2025. ALNCO : The new title for what was once SENCO — the Additional Learning Needs Coordinator in schools and colleges. The ALN Code for Wales 2021 The ALN Code sets out how Local Authorities, schools, colleges and health boards ...

The Hidden Crisis in Wales: Why So Many Children Are Struggling with Mental Health and Bullying

The Hidden Crisis in Wales: Why So Many Children Are Struggling with Mental Health and Bullying Learn Without Limits CIC – November 2025 A major national study released this week paints a stark and heartbreaking picture of childhood in Wales . Behind closed doors, many children are carrying silent emotional distress; anxiety, loneliness, low confidence and bullying, with very little visibility in their daily school lives. For thousands of Welsh parents, this article is not surprising. It is confirmation of what they have been saying for a long time, and sharing with us as we build our ALN app . What follows is a deeper examination of why this crisis has arisen and what Wales must do next. 1. Why does this crisis run deeper in Wales than headlines suggest Wales faces significant additional pressures that intensify children’s emotional struggles: long waits for assessments lack of specialist provision Reduced therapeutic support staff shortages in health, social ...

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