The Individual Development Plan

One plan, written in plain, person-centred language

IDPs are designed to be shorter, more accessible, and genuinely person-centred, written collaboratively with the child and family from the outset.

Your rights: IDPs must specify both ALN and the additional learning provision (ALP) to meet them, and must be reviewed at least annually.

Common pitfall: Knowing whether the school or the council is the 'responsible body' is essential — complaints go to the wrong place otherwise.

Your voice: Co-production is a legal expectation in Wales, not just good practice — if a plan is drafted without you, you're entitled to push back and ask for the process to be redone properly.

• Insist on being part of drafting the plan, not just commenting on a finished draft

• Check outcomes are written in a way your child could understand if read aloud to them

• Confirm who is the 'responsible body' — the school or the local authority — as this affects who you escalate to later