Consultation on the Proposal to Establish a New Specialist Provision for Pupils with Additional Learning Needs (ALN)

Decision Notification

Following the meeting of Wrexham County Borough Council’s Executive Board on Tuesday 11th November 2025, we can confirm that the consultation to establish a new specialist provision for pupils with additional learning needs in Plas Madoc was approved.

Updates for the Consultation - Consultation: new specialist provision ‘Copa’ for pupils with additional learning needs | Wrexham County Borough Council

The objection period for this consultation is now closed.

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Wrexham County Borough Council are holding a formal consultation on the following proposal:

To establish a new specialist provision for pupils with additional learning needs (ALN).

Following consultation on these proposed changes, the Council will consider whether the proposal should be implemented.

This is your opportunity to ask questions and make comments that will be considered by the Council's Executive Board, who will decide how to proceed.

The formal consultation period will begin on 24th March 2025 and will end on 11th May 2025.

Background and Rationale for Change

The Council has a strong track record for meeting a wide range of additional learning needs (ALN) with a continuum of specialist provision. The majority of children and young people with ALN are educated in mainstream schools. The authority continues to work with mainstream schools to be increasingly inclusive and responsive to a widening range of needs.

Over recent years, the demand for specialist school places for pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) has risen in Wrexham. A significant number of children who present as neuro-diverse, with autism as their primary area for support require a more specialist setting for their learning and well-being needs to be met.

By bringing this proposal forward, the Council intends to address the rising demand for special school places. This project will enable up to 16 pupils in key stages 3 and 4 who present as neuro-diverse, with autism as their primary area for support to have their learning and well-being needs met within the County Borough. These pupils will often present as having problems with mental health and may manifest self-harming behaviours and/or behaviours which challenge when their environmental and sensory needs are not met. The new specialist provision would be specifically designed as an autism-friendly, inclusive learning environment ensuring a range of sensory needs are met.