ColegauCymru warmly welcomes today’s announcement by Lynne Neagle MS, Cabinet Secretary for Education, of £3.2 million in-year funding to support learners with Additional Learning Needs (ALN) in further education colleges.
This additional investment is a positive step and demonstrates that Welsh Government has listened to our calls for further support. Colleges are committed to delivering high-quality provision for all learners, and this funding will make an important difference to learners who require additional support to achieve their potential.
However, we recognise that meaningful change will take time and sustained effort. Colleges will need time to recruit the right staff and put in place the necessary systems and resources to meet increasing levels of need.
To ensure lasting impact, it is vital that this announcement is followed by ongoing, sustainable funding for ALN in the FE sector. Maintaining staffing levels in colleges is critical to manage the increased workload as a result of statutory duties under ALNET, with projections from college ALN leads indicating additional costs exceeding £3million for 2025/26. Without sustained investment, the quality and sustainability of inclusive provision are at risk.
This call for sustained and sufficient funding to support learners with ALN is a key priority in our recently published Manifesto for the Senedd 2026 Election, which outlines our vision for growth, opportunity, and fairness across the further education sector in Wales.
Further Information
Cabinet Statement
Oral Statement: Update on the ALN Reforms
14 October 2025
ColegauCymru Manifesto for the Senedd 2026 election
Growth, Opportunity and Fairness
October 2025
Chris Denham, ALN Transformation Lead for FE
Chris.Denham@ColegauCymru.ac.uk
