Meet our ALN Team 

Ms F Daniels – ALNCO/Associate Assistant Headteacher  

Mrs C Williams – ALN manager  

Mrs J Bowen – Social Communication Champion   

We are also supported with an amazing group of Teaching Assistants who support our learners.

The Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator (ALNCO) and the ALN manager/administrator co-ordinate and manage all aspects of ALN at Pentrehafod School. We believe that the quality of care, support, and guidance is a strong feature across the department.  We envision a School community that celebrates the diversity of our students, recognising that each individual brings a unique set of strengths and talents to our learning environment.  

Our mission to empower every learner, to ensure they reach their full potential, is at the heart of everything we do. In our commitment to inclusivity, we strive to create an accessible and accommodating learning environment. In addition, we hold strong partnerships between educators, parents, our cluster primary ALNCO’s, and the broader ALN community such as Educational Psychologists, Behaviour Support Teachers, Speech and Language Therapists, Visually Impaired teachers, Hearing Impaired teachers, and Specialist Teachers for physical and medical needs. 

Our department is not just a support system, it is a vibrant community that values and celebrates the uniqueness of every learner. Together, we strive to create an educational experience that leaves no student behind, preparing them for a future where diversity is embraced and inclusion is at the heart of what we do. 

Our team are trained in the four areas of need: cognition and learning, Emotional, Social, and Behavioural development, physical and sensory needs, and communication and interaction. High-quality interventions are led by specialist Teaching Assistants ensuring each student receives tailored support to successfully access the curriculum. In addition, our Social Communication Champion officer supports our students with autism spectrum disorder. 

To support our students with emotional, social and behavioural needs, we have various alternative provisions within our School. Our Esgyn provision (Key Stage 3 and 4) is a learning environment that tailor support for students to succeed academically and socially, despite facing challenges that may hinder their progress in a conventional school setting. Furthermore, we have a nurture provision, NEST, which supports students with a nurturing approach in their Year 7 journeys.  

We hold close working relationships with our partner primary schools which enable the ALNCO to establish a clear picture of pupils’ needs and abilities before they join us in Year 7. Enhanced transition work is also clearly planned to enable a smooth and successful transition for our students with Additional Learning Needs. This enables the more vulnerable students to become familiar with our School before they start. 

Interventions

We run a range of Interventions at Pentrehafod to support students with ALN.  

• Language Link

• ELSA support

• Talkabout

• ToebyToe

‘The school hosts a well-established specialist teaching facility for pupils with speech, communication, and language difficulties. Where appropriate, pupils learn alongside their mainstream peers. Staff in the facility know their pupils very well and provide high levels of support and guidance that are well matched to the needs of pupils. As a result, pupils make very strong progress in both their learning and wellbeing.’ 

Meet the Team

Lead Teacher (English): Mrs R Rees 

Teacher (Maths): Mrs K Jones 

Teacher (Science): Mrs A Ruddy 

Teacher (Humanities): Mrs C Wrona  

Admin Assistant:  Mrs S Bennison 

Teaching Assistant: Miss L Adams 

Teaching Assistant: Mr R Thomas 

Teaching Assistant: Mrs G Pryde 

Teaching Assistant: Mrs E Williams 

Teaching Assistant: Miss G Harries 

Teaching Assistant: Mrs J Phelps 

Teaching Assistant: Miss K James