SEND funding

Stoke-on-Trent Early Years settings and childminders can apply for additional funding towards providing support or resources for a child with SEND. This is known as SEN Inclusion Funding. Settings must make a new application each term by completing the SEN inclusion funding form and emailing it to EYIS@stoke.gov.uk by the deadline for each term. Funding levels depend on the child's developmental levels sa well as the number of hours that htye attend the setting.

Settings are entitled to a Disability Access Fund payment if they have a 3 or 4 year old child in receipt of Disability Living Allowance attending their setting. This can only be claimed once every 12 months.  You will need to provide a copy of the letter informing Parents that their child is eligible for DLA. Funding is requested via the Portal - please contact the EY Finance Team for more information at beststart@stoke.gov.uk.

Most of a school’s funding is based on the total number of pupils in the school – they receive money for each pupil - this is also called the Age Weighted Pupil Unit (AWPU). Some of this money is for general SEND provision such as paying for a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator).

The amount of the AWPU is different in each Local Authority and there is usually more funding for secondary school pupils than for primary school pupils. The Education Funding Agency sets the AWPU for academies and free schools.

This funding is to provide SEND support. This is support that is different or more than the support that most children get.

The local authority decides how much of this funding a school should get using a formula which takes a number of factors into account. For instance, they give more money to schools who have had lower results in Maths and English in the past, who have greater numbers of children with English as an additional language and those schools who have more children receiving free school meals. The Education Funding Agency provides this funding for academies and free schools. Element 2 funding is also part of schools’ delegated budget.

Government guidance says schools should provide up to the first £6,000 of additional or different support for those children who need it, including those with an Education, Health and Care plan (or a Statement of Special Educational Need). This does not mean that the school will spend £6,000 on every child with SEN. Sometimes schools use funds to help groups of children. Some children will need less help – and some children may need more.

You can ask your school how it uses its SEND budget to support your child and whether it has enough to make all the provision they need. You can find out more about a school’s arrangements for SEND support by reading the SEND information report on their website.

Some pupils have such complex needs that their school may request some additional funding to top up Element 1 and Element 2 funding. Element 3 funding is managed by the local authority and it is sometimes called the ‘high needs block’. This funding can be used to make specific provision for an individual child or a group of children, if the school can show that it is necessary.

These funding arrangements do not override the local authority’s duty to your child to ensure they receive any necessary provision that the school itself cannot make. The law says that the local authority must find out via an EHC needs assessment whether an EHC plan is needed when a child or young person may have SEND that may need the local authority to secure provision. So if your school is unable to make all the provision your child needs within their own resources, you have the right to ask for an EHC needs assessment.

As a parent of a child with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), it's important that you understand how funding works to support your child's education. One crucial aspect of SEND funding is the notional funding allocated to all mainstream schools.

What is SEND Notional Funding?

SEND notional funding is a portion of the school's overall budget allocated by the council specifically for supporting pupils with SEND. This funding is intended to help schools provide additional resources, staff training, and interventions to meet the range of needs of pupils with SEND in the school.

Legally schools are responsible for meeting the first £6,000 of additional funding for children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) from their own budget. This is often also referred to as their "notional SEND budget" or "Element 2 funding".

How is SEND Notional Funding Calculated?

The amount of SEND notional funding allocated to a school varies depending on a number of pupil-led factors such as:

• The basic entitlement funding = based on the number of children on roll at the school
• Deprivation funding 
• Low prior attainment

Notional funding allocated to each of the schools in Stoke-on-Trent

This won't always add up to £6,000 per pupil with SEND in a school because not every child with SEND will need that level of support and often the support and reasonable adjustments a child needs will actually cost nothing at all. 

How is SEND Notional Funding Used?

Schools are expected to use SEND notional funding to:

• Provide additional support staff, such as teaching assistants or specialist teachers
• Deliver interventions and programs tailored to SEND pupils' needs
• Purchase specialist equipment or resources
• Train staff on SEND-related issues

What Does This Mean for My Child?

While SEND notional funding is allocated to schools, it's important to remember that it's not a direct entitlement for individual pupils. Instead, schools are expected to use this funding to create an inclusive environment that meets the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND.

If a pupil's SEND support needs exceed £6,000, the school may be able to apply for top-up funding from the local authority's high needs funding pool (Element 3 funding) or might decide to request an EHC needs assessment. A school doesn't have to show they have used the notional funding before being able to request an EHC needs assessment, but we might ask for information about how it has been used to help us to understand what support has been provided.

How Can I Get Involved as a Parent?

As a parent, you play a vital role in ensuring your child's needs are met. Here are some ways to get involved:

• Attend SEND reviews and meetings with school staff
• Communicate regularly with your child's teachers and SEND coordinator
• Join the school's SEND parent group or forum
• Provide feedback on your child's SEND support

Where Can I Find More Information?

If you have questions or concerns about SEND notional funding or your child's support, contact your child's school in the first instance.

By working together with schools and local authorities, you can help to ensure that your child receives the support they need to thrive.

You can find out more about SEND Support in the city here.

Schools can access lots of guidance and support on the graduated approach and how to make best use of their notional funding here.