Graduated Response

Which stage? What is the need?

The above images show the ALN journey of a child in the school.

Stage 1 - Ordinarily available

Many children will receive Stage 1 support during their time at Ysgol Gwaelod y Garth. This can be from pencil grips to in-class support for reading or maths. This is short-term support and often no further support is needed. 

Stage 2 - Targeted Support

If the teacher feels not enough progress is being made they will begin Stage 2 - Targeted support. The teacher will discuss this with parents during a meeting or during parents' evening. The support is often provided by teaching assistants such as precision teaching for reading or spelling. This stage can take time as children develop at their own rate and as long as some progress is made the support is helping.

Stage 3 - Structured Support

A very small number of children will need further support if they are not making the expected progress. At this stage, the class teacher will speak to parents/guardians regarding the possibility of assessments by specialist teams. You will meet more often with the class teacher and ALNCo. The ALNCo will discuss the child (nameless) with a specialist team at a prioritisation meeting. The specialist teacher will give the school support and will advise if an assessment is needed. The ALNCo will prepare a referral form which the parent/guardian will need to provide information and sign. After the assessment, the child may require a bespoke learning plan which the school will follow.

Stage 4 Additional Learning Plan

Sometimes, when the child has followed the stages but is not accessing the curriculum, a discussion will be held in order to decide if the child has learning difficulties which requires an additional learning plan. This will mean that the child requires support that is additional to and different from anything anyone else receives or needs to access the curriculum. Once a teacher or parent raises a concern of ALN a 35-day process is triggered. A Person-Centered Planning (PCP) meeting will be held to discuss the evidence and to decide if the child has additional learning needs that requires an additional learning plan. If the decision is that the child has ALN and requires an ALP the ALNCo will create an individual development plan (IDP)  as part of this the ALP. Further information on this is found on our website.