SEN Funding in Mainstream Schools and Academies

SEN funding is split into 2 parts: Delegated Notional SEN Funding (for low cost high incidence SEN) High Needs Top Up Funding (for high cost low incidence SEN) Delegated Notional Funding. School budgets include a prior attainment funding factor for SEN. Primary - Based on Early Years Foundation Stage Profile Secondary - Based on KS2 Maths or English scores below level 4 2.5% of a schools age weighted pupil funding (the amount they receive for every pupil on roll) is also notionally for SEN.

High Needs SEN The DfE definition of a High Needs pupil is one where the cost exceeds the Age Weighted Pupil Unit (AWPU) plus £6,000.

Who is responsible for the High Needs SEN and Low Needs SEN costs? Low Needs SEN If a pupil does not meet the DfE definition of a high needs pupil then the school is expected to cover all these costs from its delegated notional SEN budget. High Needs SEN The school is expected to meet the first £6,000 cost of the additional assessed needs for each high needs pupil from its delegated notional SEN budget. The remaining assessed costs in excess of £6,000 are given to the school as additional Top Up funding from the LA.

Who pays the High Needs costs? Note: £17,040 has been used as an example only. The cost of the additional assessed needs for each individual high needs pupil will vary.

What if a school has a large number of high needs pupils does it get any additional support? Yes. The LA and Schools Forum have agreed that schools should only contribute the £6,000 element for a maximum of 1 pupil in every 75 of their NOR. For example: A school with a NOR of 150 would only have to contribute the £6,000 element for 2 high needs pupils. If they had a third high needs pupil the LA would provide the £6,000 in addition to the top up. For a 400 pupil school it would be 5 high needs pupils.

First 2 High Needs Pupils Any additional High Needs Pupils For a 150 NOR school. Using pupils with additional assessed needs costing £17,040 for the example.

High Needs Pupils from other local authorities If a school has any high needs pupils from another local authority, that local authority is responsible for paying the top up element. The top up amount from the other LA may be different.

Does all the Delegated Notional SEN Funding and High Needs Top Up Funding have to be spent on SEN pupils? The funds allocated to each school are determined using proxy indicators such as SATs scores, EYFSP results or assessed needs of high needs pupils using average salary costs. As these are only methods for estimating needs and allocating budgets they will never exactly match the specific SEN requirements in each school. The final decision on how the allocated SEN funding and any other funding elements of a school’s budget are used therefore rests with each individual school.