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Leader Live
15 hours ago
- General
- Leader Live
'Perfect storm' as Flintshire schools face ALN and funding pressure
That was the fear expressed by Hawarden, Ewloe councillor Dave Mackie at Thursday's meeting of Flintshire County Council's Education, Youth & Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee. They were discussing a report on funding for specialist provision and additional learning needs (ALN). There was widespread praise for the creative work being done by schools and headteachers to deliver support for the increasing number of pupils presenting with ALN and the increasing complexity of their support needs. But the committee had serious concerns that funding pressures could soon force schools to prioritise support for those most in need. It was also revealed that there is, for the first time, a waiting list for out of county provision for those pupils with requiring the most specialist support, as all available places are now full. "We are experiencing a perfect storm of cuts in school funding, problems from Covid which you can't ignore, reduction in school rolls and the need to for ALN provision,"said Cllr Mackie. "This could lead to some very very serious problems. We know schools have had to reduce their staff and the point about specific individual care is it requires staff. "We must acknowledge the scale of the financial pressures in order to make suitable provision. "Clearly we are in a perfect storm not of our own making and we are expecting schools to cope. I think we are expecting too much." Jeanette Rock, Flintshire's senior manager for inclusion and progression, said that in 15 years she had never seen so much legitimate demand for additional educational support. "We really are seeing increased levels of need and complexity," she said. "I've worked in this role for 15 years and never seen this level of legitimate need. "Out of county provision is full. We have a challenge to find suitable places for our children and we have a waiting list for the first time. "A number of our children are struggling to engage with larger school buildings and it's fair to say that our primary sector are feeling the pinch." There was tentatively good news in the report. A feasibility study in 2018 identified the council needed to invest £38m in specialist facilities for pupils with specific needs. That bid has been submitted to the Welsh Government's Sustainable Communities Fund and is being reviewed to ensure planned works are still fit for purpose. But concerns over operational funding led to a recommendation that the committee ask full council to requisition the £1.2m of additional funding given to the authority as part of the Welsh Local Government Settlement to further support ALN provision in the county. "I have noted we are in a red risk area for funding," said Buckley Bistre West Cllr Carolyn Preece. "Where will the money come from to support this. "The Welsh Government seriously needs to recognise we are still feeling the effect of Covid. We need more provision, more funding for this specialist educational delivery that is a mandatory statutory provision because the outcome of good ALN support is amazing, it enriches people's lives. I would like to recommend that we request that £1.2m of additional money received by the council in the budget be given to the education budget because our schools really need this." The committee supported the recommendation.
Leader Live
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Title-chasing Super Saints hit back for key derby win
They are four points clear at the top following a key 4-2 triumph over the club's Saints team, who went two-up via Max Jones and Olivier Maluszynski. Jack Parry, Vincent Riley, Oscar Burgon and Jackson J Evans made sure of the fightback. Title rivals Buckley Town Wanderers suffered a 2-1 reverse to Mynydd Isa, who won it through Isaac Williamson and Matthew Nowell. Rhys Duncan-Timms fired back for the Wanderers. Meanwhile, Buckley Town Boys concluded their campaign with a 5-1 defeat of Aston Park Rangers. Brayden Dutton, Zac Eccles, Harley Melia, Louis Saynor and Riley Simpson sealed the deal, as Luca England responded. Red Division action for the season is now at an end and runners-up Hawarden played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at Greenfield, who had Gabriel Fitan (2) and Daniel Aziz on the mark. Cellan Pearson (2) and Archie Jones were on target for Hawarden. Lampis Tsapi, Harley Shaw and Joseph Gregg made sure of a 3-1 outcome for Broughton United against Mold Alex, who took the lead through Thomas Reynolds. Elsewhere, Saltney Town twice went in front via Louie Briscoe and Charlie Ash, but they were pipped 3-2 at Kinnerton Oaks. Thomas Lindsay, Ewan Meyer and Oliver Hancock won it. Midweek results: Broughton United Super Saints 10 Aston Park Rangers 0; Broughton United Saints 6 Mynydd Isa 2; Broughton United 5 Kinnerton Oaks 1. Bringing the curtain down on the U13s' Red Division season were Saltney Town and Holywell Town in a 1-1 draw, Jayden Collister and Elliott Mackie the respective scorers. Mynydd Isa United wrapped up their title-winning efforts with a 7-0 verdict over Connah's Quay Town, as Isaac Dodd and Connor Dawson netted two apiece.
