How to Meaningfully Support Students with ALN

What is ALN?

ALN stands for Additional Learning Needs. According to The Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales 2021, ‘A person has additional learning needs if he or she has a learning difficulty or disability (whether the learning difficulty or disability arises from a medical condition or otherwise) which calls for additional learning provision.’ [1] There are various conditions which may impact the way children and young people learn and process information. Schools across the UK must provide Additional Learning Provisions (ALP), which should support those children and young people to make as much progress as possible and reach their full potential. Cardiff and Vale tutors are knowledgeable in the best practices and ways of supporting learners.

What are some examples of Additional Learning Provisions (ALPs)?

While there are a number of strategies that teachers and tutors can use to support children and young people, it is vital to remember that everyone is unique and that what will work for one person, may not work for another.

With that in mind, here are some strategies:

Chunking Information

The working memory (our ability to hold new information in our minds) is limited for everyone, but some students with ALN struggle with their working memory more than others. Tutors can support learners by chunking information. This means grouping similar ideas together, into smaller segments, so that the strain on the working memory decreases. For examples, if teaching word types in English, while explaining what verbs are, a tutor could also explain what an adverb is because both types are related and could form one ‘chunk’. It’s like eating a pizza a slice at a time, rather than eating it whole all at once.

One-step Instructions

Within school classrooms, teachers cannot adjust their teaching to 100% fit the needs of all learners, however, tutors working one-on-one with learners can. This means that the pace of lessons can be slowed down and tutors can more effectively check for misconceptions. They can also deliver one-step instructions, such as ‘open your book’, which can be very beneficial for learners who struggle to follow more complex instructions. For example, ‘open your book, turn to page 12 and read the first paragraph’ may be too complex for some ALN learners. One-step instructions can be essential to building learners’ ability to follow those more complex instructions and allow for the pace of the lesson to be more suitable for the learner. Therefore, increasing the learning that is able to happen.

Suitable Environment

A suitable learning environment is very important for learners with ALN. Limiting distractions such as mobile phones and TVs can massively improve learning, as learners can direct all of their attention to the lesson. Having an organised, clean and quiet space can also reduce the amount of cognitive strain and open up more of that working memory to learning. If the learners are working online with a tutor, having all the technology set up correctly before the lesson begins ensures a prompt start and reduces the chances of technical difficulties further into the lesson. Further setting up the learner for increased success.

Conclusion

Overall, children and young people with some medical conditions, disabilities or learning difficulties are entitled to, and deserve the best possible, Additional Learning Provisions. Despite mainstream schools’ valiant efforts to support their learners, it isn’t always possible. Therefore, having a Cardiff and Vale tutor supporting your child and delivering tailored to their needs lessons, can oftentimes make an impressive difference in their learning and progress.

[1] Welsh Government, 2021. The Additional Learning Needs Code. [online] GOV.WALES. Available at: https://www.gov.wales/additional-learning-needs-code [Accessed 15 February 2026].

This Blog was Written By Aleksandra Dul – QTS English Language and Literature Teacher

Do take a look at earlier blogs:

Supporting Students with ALN – Cardiff Vale Tutors

How Tuition Can Be The Best Choice for ALN Students – Cardiff Vale Tutors

How to Support Children with Special Educational Needs – Cardiff Vale Tutors

How A Private Tutor Helps Support Mental Health – Cardiff Vale Tutors