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Local authorities in Wales will receive a share of £20m to improve or create learning environments for pupils with Additional Learning Needs (ALN).

The funding, which comes from the Welsh Government, can be used to create quiet or sensory areas, upgrade or buy new equipment or go towards making learning environments more inclusive.

The announcement was made this week by Wales’ Education Minister, Jeremy Miles.

The funding will be distributed among local authorities in Wales to support mainstream schools, special schools or pupil referral units.

Councils will be able to determine themselves where their funding allocation will be used.

Caerphilly’s Labour Senedd Member, Hefin David, is a governor at Trinity Fields School in Ystrad Mynach, which is for children and young people aged between three and 19-years-old.

He welcomed the announcement and said: “This funding will help to widen access to much needed ALN resources in my constituency of Caerphilly and ensure that all learners are taught in spaces with the technologies and facilities they need.

“As many know this is a cause I am very passionate about, through personal experience and through my work as a Governor at Trinity Fields Special School.

“This funding will mean the world to schools like Trinity Fields. We know that the school will be expanding on site and offering more additional needs school spaces – which is very much needed; but alongside the expansion, the opportunity to invest more funds into ensuring provision of the best opportunities to the pupils there is absolutely crucial for encouraging individual potential.”