The Council will consult on proposals to enhance its mainstream Learning Support Class offer for pupils with Additional Learning Needs – which would increase the number of classes in the County Borough from 48 to 52.
The proposals would respond to current areas of need in the Early Years and secondary phase, and would also target increasing the provision at some schools to limit unnecessary transitions for learners from one site to another.
A report to Cabinet on Thursday, September 19, provided details about the Council’s 48 Learning Support Classes, which offer specialist placements for pupils who find it challenging to learn within mainstream education. The Council spends around £5.8m each year to operate these classes, which currently support a total of 420 pupils. This has increased from 330 pupils and 46 classes since October 2018 – reflecting the recent growth in demand.
While there is an excellent range of Learning Support Classes attached to mainstream schools, there remains a need in some areas. Notably, all three Early Years classes have exceeded their optimal capacity, while there is a shortfall across Years 7-11 in the secondary phase. There is also no Learning Support Class for secondary pupils with Complex Learning Difficulties in the Cynon Valley, so pupils must travel to Tonyrefail, Ferndale or Treorchy.
In addition, there are six classes for Year 3-6 with Social Communication Needs/ASD, but only five classes across Reception to Year 2 – which are either at or over their optimum capacity in September 2024. Of the six Year 3-6 classes, only three have a corresponding provision from Reception to Year 2, so many pupils have to make additional transitions from one site to another.
Officers have therefore proposed five changes to amend the Council’s current provision by September 2025, to address these areas of need. They are to:
- Establish Early Years Intervention Learning Support Classes at Cwmaman Primary School and Penyrenglyn Primary School, for the pre-school age.
- Establish a primary phase Learning Support Class for pupils with Social Communication Needs/ASD at Hirwaun Primary School.
- Establish a Learning Support Class for pupils in Years 7-11 with Complex Learning Difficulties at Mountain Ash Comprehensive School.
- Relocate the Learning Support Class for Social Communication Needs/ASD from Penywaun Primary School to Hirwaun Primary School – to create a through-phase provision (Reception to Year 6) on one site. Only three current pupils would be relocated as part of this change.
Having considered the report, Cabinet has agreed for the Council to consult on these changes over a six-week period from September to November 2024.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, said: “The Council’s Access and Inclusion Service has a duty to review the suitability of its provision for Additional Learning Needs pupils – and to take any necessary steps to ensure the right type of provision is available, both in terms of their quality and quantity. This is particularly important in the current situation, where demand is consistently increasing across all of our special schools, and across our range of Learning Support Classes that are attached to mainstream schools.
“Officers have reported that while the range of support offered by our 48 Learning Support Classes is very good, there are some areas where an additional provision would help meet an identified shortfall – particularly in the Early Years and secondary phase. In addition, officers have identified areas where a more consistent approach could be offered in some communities, to limit pupils’ need to transition from one site to another – and instead enjoy a ‘through’ provision, similar to their peers accessing mainstream education.
“The proposals would result in 47 of our Learning Support Classes being left unaltered, one being relocated, and four new classes being established. Having considered the report and recommendations from officers, Cabinet has agreed to consult on the changes. The feedback received will be collected and presented to Members, to inform their final decision in the future.”
Posted on 24/09/2024