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 escalation is not failure – it is required in law.

ALN Code 12.9: schools must refer to the LA if needs may exceed reasonable school capacity.

Reason 2 – Enormous workload pressures

Most ALNCos are balancing safeguarding, pastoral crises, behaviour support, external agencies, and daily classroom demands.

Delays often reflect limited capacity, not unwillingness.

Reason 3 – Misunderstanding of LA thresholds

Some schools incorrectly believe that:

• the LA will reject referrals
• a child must “fail” multiple interventions
• significant evidence must be gathered first

Legally, none of this is required.

Parents may request LA involvement directly at any time (ALNET Act 2018, s.14).

Reason 4 – System pressure, not staff fault

Delegated ALN funding can unintentionally discourage escalation. Schools are not penalised for referring to the LA, but pressures can make them cautious.

Reason 5 – Fear of straining LA relationships

In smaller authorities, schools may worry about being seen as “over-referring”.

Again, this is a system issue.

3. EOTAS and the School Roll: Why the LA Must Maintain the IDP

Many parents ask:

“My child is EOTAS but still on the school roll. Why can’t the school maintain the IDP?”

Because:

A school has no legal power to arrange EOTAS.

Legal basis:
ALNET Act 2018, s.14(6) – only the LA can determine education “otherwise than at school”
ALN Code 13.14 – EOTAS always requires an LA-maintained IDP

Even if a child:

• stays on roll
• attends part-time
• receives blended or hybrid provision
• receives peripatetic teaching

…the LA must maintain the IDP.

Practical reasons:

EOTAS requires commissioning of tutors, transport, risk assessments, therapeutic support, and specialist placements – all of which fall outside school powers.

4. What if a Child Has Always Been Electively Home Educated (EHE)?

A child who has always been EHE can still receive an IDP.

The ALN system applies to all children in Wales, including those never enrolled in school.

Legal basis:
ALNET Act 2018, s.14(1)(b) – parents may request LA assessment directly
ALN Code 12.59–12.69 – duties for EHE children
ALN Code 13.21 – LAs maintain IDPs for EHE children with ALN

Key points for parents:

• EHE does not remove a child’s rights under the ALN system
• The LA cannot refuse because the child is home educated
• The LA must consider whether home education can meet the child’s needs
• If not, the LA must consider whether EOTAS is appropriate

5. Should Parents Ask for an LA-Maintained IDP?

Often yes.

This protects the child, the plan, and the school.

An LA-maintained IDP is appropriate when needs involve:

• specialist teaching
• SALT, OT, CAMHS, paediatrics or multi-agency input
• reduced timetables or EBSA
• inability to attend school
• complex behavioural, sensory or trauma profiles
• EOTAS
• hybrid or off-site provision
• significant health or social care involvement

ALN Code 12.9: schools must refer where needs exceed reasonable capacity.
ALNET Act 2018, s.14(1)(b): parents may ask the LA directly.

Requesting LA involvement helps school staff by reducing pressure and ensuring decisions are made at the correct statutory level.

6. How Parents Request an LA-Maintained IDP (Template Letter)

A parent does not need permission from the school.

A simple written request to the LA is enough.

Template Email

Subject: Request for LA Determination of ALN and LA Maintenance of the IDP (ALNET Act 2018, s.14)

Dear [Local Authority ALN Team],

I am writing to request that the Local Authority determines whether my child, [Child’s Name, DOB], has Additional Learning Needs and that the LA takes over responsibility for maintaining their IDP, in accordance with section 14(1)(b) of the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018.

I am making this request because:
[brief summary: needs beyond school capacity, multi-agency involvement, EBSA, EOTAS consideration, complexity of profile]

Please confirm receipt of this request and provide information about next steps.

Kind regards,
[Parent Name]
[Contact Details]

7. Summary Table – Who Maintains the IDP?

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CTPau Ysgol, CTPau ALl, Addysg Gartref ac Addysg y Tu Allan i’r Ysgol (EOTAS) — Beth Mae Rhieni Cymru Angen Ei Wybod

1. Beth yw’r gwahaniaeth rhwng CTP ysgol a CTP a gynhelir gan yr Awdurdod Lleol?

O dan Ddeddf Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol a’r Tribiwnlys Addysg (Cymru) 2018, gall UN corff ar y tro gynnal CTP plentyn:

• Ysgol – pan ellir diwallu anghenion o fewn adnoddau’r ysgol
• Awdurdod Lleol – pan fo anghenion y tu hwnt i gapasiti’r ysgol neu pan fo EOTAS yn berthnasol

Sail gyfreithiol:
Deddf ADY 2018, adrannau 10–14
Cod ADY 2021, Penodau 11–13

2. Pam nad yw ysgolion yn cyfeirio ymlaen at yr ALl? (Heb feio staff)

Yn aml mae rhieni’n gofyn:

“Pam nad yw’r ysgol yn gofyn i’r ALl gymryd drosodd pan nad oes modd iddynt ddiwallu’r anghenion mwyach?”

Dyma’r rhesymau, wedi’u cyflwyno’n deg ac yn gytbwys.

Rheswm 1 – Pryder y bydd cyfeirio ymlaen yn edrych fel “methiant”

Mae’r ALNCo yn aml yn teimlo pwysau i allu datrys popeth. Ond mae’r Cod yn glir – nid methiant yw cyfeirio ymlaen.

Cod ADY 12.9: rhaid cyfeirio at yr ALl pan fo anghenion yn efallai’n fwy nag all yr ysgol eu diwallu.

Rheswm 2 – Llwyth gwaith trwm iawn

Mae ALNCos yn ymdopi â diogelu, ymddygiad, cyfarfodydd ag asiantaethau, a phwysau dyddiol.

Mae oedi yn aml oherwydd diffyg capasiti, nid diffyg ewyllys.

Rheswm 3 – Camddealltwriaeth o drothwyon yr ALl

Weithiau mae ysgolion yn credu’n anghywir fod:

• yn rhaid profi “methiannau”
• angen tystiolaeth eang
• yr ALl yn annhebygol o gytuno

Mewn gwirionedd, gall rhieni ofyn i’r ALl yn uniongyrchol (Deddf ADY, adran 14).

Rheswm 4 – Pwysau systemig

Mae cyllid ADY wedi’i ddirprwyo’n creu pwysau i ddarparu’n fewnol. Nid bai staff yw hyn.

Rheswm 5 – Pryder o straenio’r berthynas â’r ALl

Gall ysgolion, yn enwedig mewn ardaloedd bach, fod yn ofalus iawn am gyfeirio ymlaen.

3. EOTAS a’r gofrestr ysgol: pam mae’n rhaid i’r ALl gynnal y CTP?

Mae rhieni’n aml yn holi:

“Mae fy mhlentyn ar gofrestr ond yn EOTAS – pam nad yw’r ysgol yn cynnal y CTP?”

Yr ateb:

Nid oes gan ysgolion unrhyw bŵer cyfreithiol i drefnu EOTAS.

Sail gyfreithiol:
Deddf ADY 2018, s.14(6) – dim ond yr ALl sy’n penderfynu ar EOTAS
Cod ADY 13.14 – rhaid i bob CTP sy’n enwi EOTAS gael ei gynnal gan yr ALl

Mae hyn yn wir hyd yn oed os yw’r plentyn yn:

• aros ar gofrestr
• mynychu’n rhan-amser
• cael darpariaeth gymysg
• derbyn tiwtora neu ddarpariaeth arbenigol

Mae’r ALl bob amser yn gyfrifol.

Rhesymau ymarferol: mae EOTAS yn gofyn am gomisiynu tiwtoriaid, cludiant, asesiadau risg, cefnogaeth therapiwtig ac ati, nad yw’n rhan o bwerau’r ysgol.

4. Beth os yw plentyn wedi derbyn Addysg Gartref erioed?

Gall plentyn sydd wedi bod yn EHE erioed gael CTP.

Mae’r system ADY yn berthnasol i bob plentyn yng Nghymru.

Sail gyfreithiol:
Deddf ADY 14(1)(b) – gall rhieni ofyn i’r ALl asesu
Cod ADY 12.59–12.69 – dyletswyddau ar gyfer plant EHE
Cod ADY 13.21 – yr ALl sy’n cynnal CTP ar gyfer plant EHE ag ADY

Pwyntiau allweddol:

• Nid yw EHE yn dileu hawliau
• Ni all yr ALl wrthod oherwydd addysg gartref
• Rhaid i’r ALl benderfynu a yw addysg gartref yn gallu diwallu anghenion
• Os na, rhaid ystyried EOTAS

5. A ddylai rhieni ofyn am CTP a gynhelir gan yr ALl?

Yn aml iawn, dylent.

Mae hyn yn:

• diogelu’r plentyn
• diogelu staff yr ysgol
• sicrhau bod anghenion cymhleth yn cael eu rheoli’n statudol

Mae’n briodol gofyn i’r ALl gymryd drosodd pan fo anghenion yn cynnwys:

• cefnogaeth arbenigol
• therapi
• cymorth amlasiantaeth
• EBSA neu anallu i fynychu
• EOTAS
• cymhlethdodau synhwyraidd / ymddygiadol
• iechyd neu ofal cymdeithasol

Cod ADY 12.9: rhaid cyfeirio pan fo anghenion y tu hwnt i gapasiti’r ysgol.
Deddf ADY s.14(1)(b): gall rhieni ofyn i’r ALl yn uniongyrchol.

6. Sut mae rhiant yn gwneud y cais?

Nid oes angen ffurflenni na chaniatâd gan yr ysgol.

Dim ond un neges ysgrifenedig i’r ALl.

Templed E-bost

Pwnc: Cais i’r ALl Benderfynu ar ADY a Chynnal CTP (Deddf ADY 2018, adran 14)

Annwyl Dîm ADY yr Awdurdod Lleol,

Rwy’n gofyn i’r Awdurdod Lleol benderfynu a oes gan fy mhlentyn, [Enw, D.O.B], Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol a bod yr ALl yn cymryd cyfrifoldeb dros gynnal ei Gynllun Datblygu Unigol, yn unol ag adran 14(1)(b) o Ddeddf ADY 2018.

Rwy’n gwneud y cais hwn oherwydd:
[angen mwy na’r ysgol, EBSA, EOTAS, cymhlethdod proffil ac ati]

A gaf gadarnhad o dderbyn y cais?

Yn gywir,
[Enw Rhiant]
[Manylion]

7. Tabl Crynodeb – Pwy sy’n Cynnal y CTP?