The Welsh Government is planning to provide a web based software solution for individual development plans (IDPs) for children and young people with additional learning needs (ALN).
This will form part of the ALN system due to go live in September, with the web platform to be used for creating, sharing and maintaining IDPs for anyone aged up to 25 and needing support.
The national government is replacing the terms ‘special educations needs’ and ‘special education provision’ with ALN, covering children with learning, physical or sensory needs that make it hard for them to learn at the same pace as others.
IDPs will be run by local authorities to determine the specific needs of a child and how they can be supported.
£3 million value
The Welsh Government has alerted potential suppliers that it wants a system, valued at up to £3 million, to be used by schools and organisations that support young people after they turn 16, and that it would be desirable if it could also be accessed by local authorities and health boards.
The system would need to retain relevant information in addition to the IDPs, running on a software as a service basis and pulling data from various education management systems.
IDPs are likely to include details of academic, behavioural and physical targets for children, details of extra support, and information on the progress made. They will be reviewed at least twice a year.
Image from GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0
