ALN - Specialist Teaching Facility (STF) within mainstream school

The majority of children / young people with additional learning needs will have their needs met in a mainstream school. For those who need additional support mainstream specialist provision can help.

What is an STF?

An STF is typically a separate area within a school, where a small number of children / young people, who have high or significant needs are taught separately. Most STFs provide children / young people with the opportunity to attend some mainstream classes, with appropriate support.

Who can go to a specialist teaching facility (STF)?

This will be decided by a multi-agency panel. The panel will look at information provided by people working with your child / young person. If you have shared your views, then these are taken into account by the panel.

Who is involved in a multi-agency panel?

A multi-agency panel is made up of council officer, headteachers, ALNCos, speech and language therapists, specialist teachers, social workers, education psychologists and SNAP Cymru. They work together to look at the information which has been shared to make recommendations regarding provision and support.

I think my child / young person needs to go to a specialist teaching facility (STF), how do I apply?

You need to discuss this with your child's / young person's school / college. The school / college can arrange a Person Centred Review (PCR) meeting where the views of the child, yourself and everyone involved in supporting the child is shared and discussed. The school / college will need to gather information and share it with us so we can make an informed decision.

You may have contact with the case worker team, as they will be able to discuss concerns and support you during the process. If you need additional support or advice, please email caseworker@swansea.gov.uk

Who decides if my child / young person can go to a specialist teaching facility?

This decision is made by a multi-agency placement panel who will consider the needs of your child / young person.

Multi-agency panel decisions always consider the child's / young person's, parents and school's / college's views and must use the evidence provided to them to support their decision.