Commentary on Sections of the Act Part 2 – Additional Learning Needs Preparing and maintaining individual development plans Section 10 - Individual development plans
26.Section 10 sets out what an individual development plan (IDP) is. This plan will form the basis of the system for planning and providing ALP for children and young people with ALN as set out in the Act. Generally, all children and young people with ALN will have an IDP, in contrast to the system under the 1996 Act, which only provided for statements of ALN for those with greater needs.
27.The ALP called for by a child or young person’s ALN must be set out in the IDP, as must other matters required to be included by or under Part 2. For example, where it is decided that a particular kind of ALP should be provided in Welsh, that must be specified in the IDP (sections 12(6), 14(5), 19(3), 21(4) and 40(6)). There are appeal rights in respect of certain content of an IDP, or a failure to include something in an IDP (sections 70 and 72), including in respect of the description of the person’s ALN and the ALP set out (including whether it is specified that ALP should be provided in Welsh). For looked after children with ALN, their IDP must be incorporated into their personal education plan if they have one (section 16).
28.The code must contain at least one standard form IDP and require that it (or where more than one, the appropriate one) is used (section 4(6)). The code may include guidance about the process for preparing an IDP (see section 4).