Minister warns pupils are being let down by 'flawed' reforms

A CONSERVATIVE politician has accused ministers of being “asleep at the wheel” as longstanding problems persist with Wales’ additional learning needs reforms.

- CHRIS HAINES

Natasha Asghar, the Tory shadow education secretary, warned pupils are being let down by the Welsh Government's “fundamentally flawed” additional learning needs (ALN) shakeup.

Ms Asghar expressed concerns about pupils “slipping through the cracks”, with statistics showing a drastic drop in the number of pupils receiving support.

She said: “My biggest concern right now is there’s been a 53% decrease in the number of pupils being identified as having ALN over the four years since the system was introduced.

“That fall - from more than 92,500 pupils to just under 44,000 - comes at the same time the Welsh Government acknowledges more children are presenting with more complex needs.”

Ms Asghar, who represents South Wales East, warned of workload pressures, a lack of funding and long waiting lists for children’s autism or ADHD assessments.