ALN Funding in Merthyr Tydfil Explained

In 2025/26, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council spent £2,258 per pupil on Additional Learning Needs (ALN). This is:

• The highest ALN spend per pupil in Wales
• 52% more than the Welsh average

Of this money, £1,102 per pupil was originally reported by Welsh Government as going directly to schools. This placed Merthyr Tydfil 6th highest in Wales for delegated ALN funding.

Why the delegation numbers needed reviewing

Some figures indicated that Merthyr Tydfil only delegated 49% of ALN funding to schools. However, this didn’t reflect the full picture.

Part of the ALN funding (the £461 per pupil Additional Support Funding) was going to schools, but because of the way it was accounted for, it was classed as “non‑delegated.”

In May 2025, the Council agreed that most of this (£309) should be formally delegated, with the remaining £152 continuing to be devolved — meaning schools still control how it’s used.

What this means in reality

When the £461 is correctly included, the true figure for 2025/26 is:

• 69% of ALN funding is delegated to schools
• 31% is kept centrally for services such as psychology, specialist support, and placements

This 69% delegation level is in line with the Welsh average, and Merthyr Tydfil still:

• Spends more per ALN pupil than any other council in Wales
• Delegates more ALN funding per pupil than any other council

Of the 31% remaining

20% is allocated to the Pupil Referral Unit; out of county placements; specialist school nursing, school counselling and other monies given directly to schools.

The remaining 11% supports:

• Educational psychology services
• Specialist ALN support teams
• Equipment and services that benefit pupils across the borough
• Therapeutic and specialist services to pupils across the borough
• Training of school-based staff on ALN strategies and intervention