ALN Decision-Making Timescales in Wales (2026 Update)

Published 28 March 2026

ALN Decision-Making Timescales in Wales

What changed in March 2026, what the law already said, and what parents can do now

Last updated: 28 March 2026 following Welsh Government guidance update

This article explains the current position in Wales only. The SEND system in England operates under a different legal framework.

If you are waiting for a school or local authority to decide whether your child has additional learning needs, it can be very difficult to know what counts as a reasonable timeframe and what does not.

That uncertainty is one of the reasons the Welsh Government has now published new guidance on ALN decision-making and communication, together with a one-page ALN decision-making timescales summary.

The underlying legal framework remains the same, based on the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 and the Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales 2021.

The Code is still shown as last updated on 26 March 2021. What changed on 27 March 2026 is that the Welsh Government added new operational guidance to help schools and local authorities apply that law more consistently in practice.

This matters because, until now, many parents have had to piece together what should be happening from multiple sources. The 2026 guidance does not change who qualifies for ALN or who is entitled to an IDP. What it does do is make expectations around timescales, process, and communication much clearer.

What has actually changed in March 2026

On 27 March 2026, the Welsh Government updated its guidance collection and introduced a new document:

“Additional learning needs (ALN): decision-making and communication.”

This document:

is non-statutory guidance
is based on the ALN Act 2018
supplements the ALN Code rather than replacing it
was developed to improve clarity, consistency and understanding

Alongside it, the Welsh Government also published:

“ALN decision-making timescales” (summary document)

This brings together the key timelines that were previously spread across the Code and guidance into one clear reference point.

The key timescales parents need to know

The new summary confirms that decisions must be made:

“promptly”, meaning without delay, taking account of the individual circumstances

It then sets out the following expectations:

A school deciding if a child has ALN
→ promptly, and usually within 35 school days
A local authority deciding if a child or young person has ALN
→ promptly, and usually within 12 weeks
Preparing and issuing an IDP
→ promptly, and usually within 35 school days (school) or 12 weeks (local authority)
A reconsideration by a local authority
→ promptly, and usually within 7 weeks
An IDP review
→ within 12 months of the IDP being issued

The guidance also clarifies:

“School days” means days when the school is open
The trigger day is not counted
If a deadline falls on a non-working day, it moves to the next working day
Exceptions may apply where delay is genuinely beyond the control of the responsible body

These are the published national timescales and expectations for how the system should operate.

What should happen when ALN is first suspected

The 2026 guidance sets out a more clearly defined and structured process.

When a school or local authority becomes aware that a learner may have ALN, they are expected to:

record the date the concern arose
record how the concern came to their attention
assign a named person to coordinate the process
notify the parent or young person
provide contact details
offer an initial meeting
explain how to access support and advice services
give an indicative timescale (35 days or 12 weeks)

This gives parents something concrete to measure local practice against.

Needs, not diagnosis: what actually defines ALN

Parents often already understand this instinctively, but it is important to say it clearly.

A diagnosis on its own does not determine whether a child has ALN.

The key question is whether the learner has:

a learning difficulty or disability which calls for additional learning provision

In practice, this means considering whether the learner experiences barriers to learning that require support beyond what is normally available.

This is a needs-based test, not a label-based system.

A diagnosis can be important evidence. But it is not the deciding factor. The deciding factor is whether the learner requires additional learning provision.

What should happen if they decide your child does NOT have ALN

If a school or local authority decides that a child or young person does not have ALN, they should:

tell you the decision clearly
explain the reasons for that decision
provide that information in an accessible written format
include information about your right to appeal where relevant

The guidance places greater emphasis on clear written communication of decisions and reasons.

What parents can do if a deadline has been missed

This is an area where the new guidance provides greater clarity for families.

If you believe a deadline has been missed or the process has stalled, you can take practical steps:

1. Ask for clarity in writing

You can ask:

On what date was it recorded that my child may have ALN?
What timescale are you working to?
Has the 35-day or 12-week timeframe now passed?
If so, what is the reason for the delay?

These questions are consistent with the expectations set out in the guidance.

2. Ask what stage the process is at

For example:

Are you still deciding whether ALN is present?
Has a decision been made but not communicated?
Has responsibility moved from the school to the local authority?

3. Ask for a formal written decision

If things are drifting, you can ask:

“Please confirm your decision and reasons in writing.”

This is important because formal decisions trigger rights of challenge.

4. Request reconsideration

If you disagree with a decision or believe the process has not been followed properly, you can request reconsideration by the local authority.

This process is expected to be completed promptly, and usually within 7 weeks.

5. Consider escalation if needed

If issues are not resolved, possible next steps may include:

local authority complaints processes
independent information and advice services
appeal to the Education Tribunal for Wales

What this means in real life

The key shift is not that parents have new rights. It is that there is now:

a clearer and more transparent framework for understanding how decisions should be made and communicated

In most cases, you should expect not to be left:

without a named contact
without a process
without a timescale
or without a written decision

If you are, it is reasonable to ask for those things.

What this article is not saying

This article is not saying that:

every delay is unlawful
every child must have an IDP
or that the law has changed

What it is saying is that Welsh Government has now made the process clearer. That provides a clearer basis for understanding what should be happening and asking for clarity where it is not.

References

[1] Welsh Government, Additional learning needs: guidance for schools and local authorities, GOV.WALES, updated 27 March 2026.

[2] Welsh Government, Additional learning needs (ALN): decision-making and communication, GOV.WALES, 27 March 2026.

[3] Welsh Government, ALN decision-making timescales, GOV.WALES, March 2026.

[4] Welsh Government, The Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales 2021, GOV.WALES, 26 March 2021.

[5] Welsh Government, A guide for parents about rights under the additional learning needs system, GOV.WALES, 12 October 2022.

[6] UK Government, Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018, legislation.gov.uk.

[7] Welsh Government, ALN Transformation Programme: Frequently Asked Questions, GOV.WALES, updated 11 May 2022.