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Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Services in Carmarthenshire

WalesPrincipal Area
Council website

Carmarthenshire is a largely rural authority in southwest Wales with a strong Welsh-speaking community, and SEND support here reflects both the strengths and challenges of providing specialist education across a dispersed population. While national data shows that SEND identification has risen significantly across the UK in recent years, Carmarthenshire's approach to additional learning needs (as SEND is known in Wales) is shaped by the local authority's commitment to bilingual provision and community-based support. If you're new to navigating SEND in Carmarthenshire, the Carmarthenshire ALN Helpline and Family Liaison Officers are your first port of call - they can guide you through the education, health and care planning process and help you understand what support is available for your child. This guide brings together the key information about SEND support in Carmarthenshire, from assessment and planning through to specialist provision and local services, so you can feel confident taking the next steps.

In Carmarthenshire's dispersed rural communities, where accessing specialist support can feel isolating, JakTrack empowers you to build a clear picture of your child's needs right from the start, with daily evidence quietly accumulating to reveal patterns over time. You'll walk into calls with the Carmarthenshire ALN Helpline or IDP meetings feeling prepared and supported, like having a trusted ally by your side. Families tell us it brings a real sense of control amid the process, helping you advocate confidently for the bilingual, community-based provision your child deserves. see how JakTrack can help

Schools & ALN Provision

121

Schools

76

With ALN Data

3,405

ALN Reports

9.7%

Avg ALN Rate

Additional Learning Needs (ALN)

Carmarthenshire operates under the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018. Instead of EHCPs, children here may receive a Individual Development Plan (IDP).

Wales Support Organisations

These national organisations can help families in Wales navigate the ALN system:

SNAP Cymru

Free independent advice and support for families with ALN children in Wales

Children in Wales

National umbrella organisation for children and young people in Wales

Welsh Government ALN guidance

Official guidance on the ALN system

Local Services & Contacts

SNAP Cymru / Advice Service

Free, independent advice and support for families navigating the ALN system in Wales.

Carmarthenshire ALN Helpline / Family Liaison Officers

Parent Carer Forum

Not identified in search results

ALN / IDP Team

The team responsible for Individual Development Plans (IDPs) under the ALN system.

Request form

ALN Team

Carmarthenshire VI Education Service / Local School Support Team

Speech & Language Therapy

Not identified in search results

Occupational Therapy

Not identified in search results

ALN Reports by Primary Need

Schools

Heol Goffa School

100% ALN
125 pupils with ALNSA15 3LS

Pwll C.P. Mixed School

58.9% ALN
45 pupils with ALNSA15 4AL

Myrddin C.P. School

42.2% ALN
45 pupils with ALNSA31 1TE

Ysgol Pen Rhos

31.7% ALN
135 pupils with ALNSA15 2TS

Ysgol Gynradd Wirfoddol Llanllwni

24.3% ALN
10 pupils with ALNSA39 9DX

Ysgol Y Felin

22% ALN
50 pupils with ALNSA14 8BE

Burry Port Community Primary School

20% ALN
40 pupils with ALNSA16 0AU

Ysgol Bro Banw Community Primary School

16.6% ALN
75 pupils with ALNSA18 2NS

Laugharne V.C.P. School

15.1% ALN
10 pupils with ALNSA33 4TE

Model C.I.W. School

14.7% ALN
70 pupils with ALNSA31 3EQ

Ysgol Gynradd Bynea

12.9% ALN
25 pupils with ALNSA14 9LT

Richmond Park Primary School

12.4% ALN
25 pupils with ALNSA31 1HF

Ysgol Y Castell

12.4% ALN
25 pupils with ALNSA17 4TR

Llanmiloe C.P. School

11.9% ALN
5 pupils with ALNSA33 4TU

Ysgol Bro Dinefwr

11.9% ALN
130 pupils with ALNSA19 6PE

Coedcae School

11.5% ALN
95 pupils with ALNSA15 1LJ

Queen Elizabeth High

11.5% ALN
150 pupils with ALNSA31 3NL

Swiss Valley C.P. School

11.5% ALN
30 pupils with ALNSA14 8DS

Ysgol Gynradd Drefach

11.1% ALN
5 pupils with ALNSA14 7AN

Understanding ALN provision in Wales

Wales operates under the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018, which replaced the old SEN system. Here's what you need to know:

Additional Learning Needs (ALN)

Under the ALN Act 2018, a child has ALN if they have a learning difficulty or disability that calls for additional learning provision. This replaces the old SEN system in Wales. Schools must identify and support children with ALN through a person-centred approach.

Individual Development Plan (IDP)

The IDP replaces Statements of SEN and Individual Education Plans in Wales. It's a single document that describes a child's ALN and the additional learning provision they need. Schools maintain IDPs for most children; the local authority maintains them for more complex needs.

ALN Coordinator (ALNCo)

Every school in Wales must have a designated ALNCo - similar to a SENCO in England. The ALNCo is responsible for overseeing ALN provision, coordinating IDPs, and working with families and external agencies to ensure children get the right support.

Special Schools in Wales

Wales has special schools for children with more complex needs. Placement is through the local authority and usually requires an IDP maintained by the LA. Data on specialist provision in Welsh schools is held by local authorities rather than centrally published.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from families about SEND support in Carmarthenshire.

You can request an IDP by contacting your child's school if they have concerns, or directly through Carmarthenshire County Council's Parent Partnership Service if needed. A request form is available, and the local authority has 12 weeks to decide if an IDP is required and prepare it. Parents, professionals, or the child themselves can make the request, leading to person-centred meetings to create the plan.
Carmarthenshire's ALN Helpline and Family Liaison Officers offer free, impartial information, advice, and support for parents and families of children with additional learning needs. You can contact them by phone at 01267 246465 or email [email protected] for help with IDPs and other SEND matters. They assist with understanding the process and your rights in a person-centred way.[data]
Carmarthenshire has no dedicated specialist SEND schools, but one school with an SEN unit provides specialist provision. Out of 121 total schools, this offers targeted support for children with additional learning needs within mainstream settings. Most IDPs are maintained by schools to ensure additional learning provision.[data]
The Local Offer in Carmarthenshire details all services and support available for children with additional learning needs, including IDPs and school provisions. It is published on the Carmarthenshire County Council website under education and schools sections. This helps parents easily find what help is available locally.
When requesting an IDP from the local authority in Carmarthenshire, they have 12 weeks to decide and prepare the plan if approved. Schools follow a similar process within school term days, with reconsideration up to seven weeks if needed. Reviews of IDPs must happen every 12 months.

Navigating SEND in Carmarthenshire?

JakTrack helps you track evidence, prepare for Individual Development Plan (IDP) reviews, check benefit eligibility, and stay on top of appointments - all in one place.

See How JakTrack Helps