£8m boost for youngsters with extra learning needs

Children and young people in Wales with additional learning needs are set to benefit from an £8m investment.

The funding is part of the Welsh Government’s Draft Budget for 2020-21 and helps children and young people with additional needs to receive a high-quality education and reach their full potential.

The investment will support local authorities and further education colleges in providing education for children and young people with additional learning needs (ALN). 

The new amount is in addition to the £20m package currently supporting the implementation of the new ALN system over this Assembly term.

ALN education is being transformed in Wales, following the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act, which became law last year. A new statutory support system for children and young people with ALN is due to come into force in September 2021.

Making the announcement, the Education Minister, Kirsty Williams said:

“We remain determined to ensure that all learners, no matter their background, are supported to meet their full potential.

“We recognise that local authorities continue to face significant pressures in supporting young people with additional learning needs. The investment we are announcing is specifically targeted to help manage those pressures and provide the best possible education for learners, while implementing our ambitious programme of ALN reform.

“We can be proud that Wales is leading the way with our ALN reforms. Our changes will ensure we identify those with ALN as early as possible, so we can work with them and their families to plan tailored support to meet their needs.

“We are changing the expectations, experiences and outcomes for young people to help all our learners achieve their full potential.”

Sally Holland, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, said: “I welcome the Welsh Government’s plans to give this much-needed boost to the system. My Investigation and Advice Service is contacted more frequently about support for additional learning needs than any other issue and my case work shows that children and young people do not always get what they need. 

“It is essential to invest now, both so that children and young people can be supported immediately and to increase our capacity across Wales before the new law is implemented.”

Allotment sheds may no longer need permission

Planning permission will no longer be required for the erection of a shed or glasshouse on an allotment in Wales under new Welsh Government plans to simplify planning rules.

An allotment is traditionally used for the growing of fresh fruit and veg produce, although in some instances may also be used for growing plants, the keeping of hens, rabbits or bees.

They are usually large areas of land divided up into smaller plots. The site is often owned by a local authority, or managed by an allotment association with the individual plots cultivated by one person or family.

Structures such as sheds and glasshouses are commonly sited on allotments.

Currently, in most circumstances, planning permission will be required for the erection of a shed or glasshouse.

It is being proposed planning rules are amended to permit the erection of a shed/ glasshouse on each plot, subject to conditions limiting their size.

To prevent the density of development increasing to unacceptable levels on allotments, it’s proposed there should be a limit of one shed/glasshouse per 125 square metres (equivalent to half a plot).

Local Government Minister, Julie James said: “Requiring planning permission for a shed or a glasshouse on an allotment, which is small in scale and has limited effects, is unnecessary. It imposes unwarranted costs on individuals and local planning authorities.

“I want the communities of the future in Wales to be places where people want to live, work and enjoy leisure activities. Providing support for community food growing and green infrastructure is essential to delivering this vision.

“Our allotments are not only great for growing our own food, they’re a wonderful example of places that create opportunities for leisure and social interaction, while also supporting healthy and active lifestyles.

“I hope the changes we propose making to planning rules will allow our allotments to grow and thrive long into the future.”

The proposed changes will also reduce the number of minor planning applications, allowing Local Planning Authorities to concentrate their resources on larger, more complex applications.

The consultation, which ends on 28^th February, can be found here: https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/consultations/2019-12/consultation-permitted-development-and-allotments.pdf

Register for next dementia aware workshop

The next #DementiaAwareDenbighshire Community Led Network meeting will be held on Thursday 30^th January 2020 from 11.00am till 1.00pm at St Collen's Community Hall, Llangollen.

The aim of this Network is to proactively lead on and facilitate initiatives to improve the awareness of Dementia in Denbighshire. 

The network meets in community-based venues once every four months to keep momentum and build a movement for change across the county, with the aim of making Denbighshire a safe, supportive and inclusive place for everyone.

The network is open to all individuals, organisations, voluntary and community groups and businesses operating in Denbighshire, people living with dementia and their families and carers, alongside representatives of Third Sector organisations and social enterprises, town and community council members, Denbighshire County Council, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, who are interested in building a movement for change.

The agenda for this meeting can be found here.

To confirm your interest in attending this FREE event, please register on Eventbrite:
bit.ly/DAD_NetworkMeeting_Jan2020

Alternatively you can call 01824 702 441.

Concert supports canal boat for disabled trust

A successful concert was held at the English Methodist Church for the Canal Boat for Disabled People Trust.

It featured Cantorion Collen Singers (conductor Eirwen Jones, accompanist Owen Roberts) and their guest soloists Myfanwy Grace, Gabriel, Tom Cowan, James Nicholas and Bili and Joseff. 

A spokesperson for the organisers said: "We would like to thank Aldi, Amacor Capital Ltd, Gwyn Davies, S.J.Newsagents, Spar, and Watkin & Williams for their support and donations and everyone who attended to make it a special Christmas occasion." 

Salon celebrates year of success

* Jades was highly commended in the Christmas Festival shop window competition earlier this month. Here the certificate is handed over to Susan Davies by Santa and Ian Parry. 

A Llangollen hair and beauty salon says its business has been boosted by the growth in wedding venues in and around the Dee Valley.

As 2019 draws to a close Jades Hair & Beauty on Oak Street is seeing out the year with a buoyant business thanks to its loyal customer base who continue to support them.

Business partners and sisters Louise Wilson and Sue Davies say their two-pronged approach to business in nurturing their existing client base and maximising the potential of Llangollen having some of the best wedding venues in the UK such as Tyn Dwr Hall, Tower Hill Barns, The Wild Pheasant Hotel and Trevor Hall has changed the way they position their business.

Louise said: “This year we have been privileged to work with some beautiful brides and their family and friends not only in the salon but also visiting them at their dream wedding venues. I believe our attention to detail and personal recommendations makes us the ideal choice for brides who are looking for that extra special experience on their happiest of days.

"We have had an amazing year and that is thanks to our dedicated team  in the salon and to our clients who remain loyal to us, many of whom have been coming to us since day one.

“This year we were pleased to be nominated at the Welsh Wedding Awards and the Women In Business Awards."

Sue said: “We do not take that custom for granted and have to constantly evolve with innovative, new ideas and treatments, combined with top class training in all aspects of our services including nail art, hair colour, wedding hair and makeup. We also put a lot of effort into researching the products we offer for sale in the salon as we want to be confident that our clients are getting first class, quality products that we personally feel confident to recommend and use ourselves.”

New treatments currently being offered upstairs in the Beauty Rooms include individual lashes, Russian lashes  and classic semi-permanent/lash lift.

With 2020 likely to be another busy year it’s also a cause for celebration as Jades Hair & Beauty marks 40 years in their salon on Oak Street.

Vicar reflects on a busy time of the year

* Father Lee Taylor's own picture of him decorating the church for Christmas.

Llangollen's vicar has been reflecting on one of his busiest times of the year for the Metro online.

Along with workers from the Red Cross, London Zoo, the Samaritans and a hotel chef Father Lee Taylor has been revealing what it's like to be working full-out over the Christmas period.

Father lee, who is responsible for four local churches, writes in today's issue: ‘Christmas is most certainly one of the busiest times of the year for priests, especially those of us that care for a group of churches. 

‘We know that Christmas is an extended festival that begins on 25 December and should continue for at least twelve days. 

But, sadly this is not the case (due to consumerism).

‘Every day and every evening during this period is filled with Christmas engagements and duties: carol services in schools and nursing homes, concerts, services. ‘[There are also] invitations to deliver a Christmas message or to be the after-dinner speaker at a Christmas function for the various organisations in the town, just to name a few of my responsibilities at this time of year. 

‘All full of joy and very good fun but very exhausting. 

‘I celebrate the Mass of Christmas Day in each of my four churches which are in and around Llangollen, north wales. 

After each service, I believe it is important to spend time greeting people as they leave the church.

‘So, by the time I have finished my final service at my fourth church, it is the early part of the afternoon. Then I go and take communion to those, who through illness or infirmity, are housebound. 

‘I am usually home and totally exhausted by the early evening and just want to go to bed but then find myself flat out on the floor with a large gin and tonic, trying to drown out the sound of carols whirling around my head.’

* To see the article, go to: https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/25/people-working-on-christmas-day-explain-how-they-make-it-festive-11921800/?fbclid=IwAR2WVeBA10DM760gb4VUbWPRMPP7Vt4N-q17SVjid0H_zbbK8iGPAA9s9q8 

Merry Christmas from llanblogger