What funding do nurseries, schools and colleges get to support a child or young person with SEN?
We know that parents and carers often worry about funding and how support will be paid for. This is completely understandable.
However, the most important thing is your child or young person’s special educational needs and the support they need to help them learn and make progress.
Decisions about support should be based on:
- What your child’s needs are.
- What help and support they require.
- How that support will help them achieve their goals and make progress.
The focus should always be on making sure the right support is in place to meet your child’s needs
Mainstream Schools including local authority maintained, academies and free schools
All mainstream schools receive funding to help support pupils with special educational needs (SEN).
Schools tell the local authority how many pupils they have identified as having SEN. The local authority then provides funding to help schools meet these needs. This is often called Level 2 funding.
This funding is not given to individual children. Instead, the school decides how to use it to support pupils with SEN and must be able to show how it benefits them.
If a child or young person has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), they may receive extra funding. This is sometimes called top-up funding or Level 3 funding.
The local authority decides whether top-up funding is needed. This decision is separate from the EHCP process and cannot be appealed to the SEND Tribunal.
When thinking about support, it is important to focus on your child’s needs and the help they require, rather than on the funding itself.
Independent schools and colleges
Independent schools and colleges do not receive SEN funding from the local authority, the Department for Education, or the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
If a child or young person with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) attends an independent school, the local authority will usually provide additional funding. This helps the school deliver the support and services written in the EHCP.
The funding is used to make sure the child or young person receives the special educational support they need to help them learn, develop, and achieve their goals.
What if the funding already provided to settings is not enough to put the support needed in place?
Schools and colleges should use their existing SEN funding to provide support for children and young people with special educational needs whenever possible.
Sometimes, a child or young person may need more support than the school or college can provide from its usual SEN resources. In these cases, the setting may ask the local authority for additional funding.
This extra funding is often called top-up funding or Element 3 funding.
In North Yorkshire, Element 3 funding is usually provided through an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). The extra funding helps make sure the child or young person receives the support and provision they need to achieve their goals and make progress in their learning.
Useful Documents
Useful Links
See our Where can I find out more about SEND Support section to find further information.