Ahead of tomorrow’s supplementary budget vote, Welsh Labour council leaders have issued a statement calling for the Plaid Cymru Government to allocate more funding for Additional Learning Needs.
Welsh Labour Council Leaders’ statement
“We welcome the efforts by our Welsh Labour Senedd Members to push forward additional funding for Additional Learning Needs provision.
“The pressure of trying to provide for learners with additional learning needs in Wales is considerable, for our schools and councils. We welcomed the news that the U.K. Government has committed extra money in England.
“We recognise that decisions in Government are not easy, as we know from our own budgets. Many leaders would have liked to push for all of the consequentials from the funding in England, but we recognise the need to be constructive.
“A minimum of £100 million of the funding for each of the next two years would at least enable us to make progress meeting the significant and growing demand. It would make a big difference to learners in Wales with additional needs, and we pledge to use every pound of extra funding to make a difference to those learners.
“These are some of the most vulnerable children in our communities. Decisions and further cuts that will be necessary without this funding would have devastating impacts on their current wellbeing and future life chances. Councils would be left with impossible choices between ALN and other vital services that are already under huge strain.
“We therefore call on the Welsh Government and all MSs to work together to maximise the funding available to support our schools and children with additional learning needs.”
