The expectations of mainstream schools
The expectations of mainstream schools concerning the use of the Notional SEN budget are to:
- meet the costs of special educational provision for pupils identified as on SEN Support per the SEND Code of Practice
- contribute towards the costs of special educational provision for pupils with high needs (most of whom have education, health and care (EHC) plans), up to the high needs cost threshold set by the regulations (currently £6,000 per pupil per annum)
It is important to note that the notional SEN budget is not intended to provide £6,000 for every pupil with SEN, as most such pupils’ support will cost less than that. Nor is the notional SEN budget intended to provide a specific amount per pupil for those with lower additional support costs. The Local Authority may make reasonable assumptions about what those costs might be, to ensure that their schools’ notional SEN budget calculation is realistic.
In Somerset, we have funding allocated to support schools that do not have sufficient notional funding to support the children and young people within the school. This is formula-based and runs following census points. Schools will be contacted about this if they are allocated additional funding through this process.
If the contribution towards the costs of special educational provision for children and young people with high needs is above the notional SEN budget of £6,000 per pupil per annum, then Element 3 funding can be applied for through an Educational Health Care Needs assessment. See the Education Health and Care Plan page for more information. Element 3 (also known as top-up funding) is allocated to a pupil when they receive an EHC plan, and this funding is ring-fenced to the individual pupil.
There is an expectation (Department for Education and SEND Code of Practice 0-25) that the SENCO is aware of their school’s notional SEN budget and to be actively engaged with the senior leaders of the school in deciding what to spend SEN support and provision on. It is for the SENCO, headteacher and governing body to establish a clear picture of the resources that are available to the school, and to consider their strategic approach to meeting SEN in the context of the total resources available to them, including any resources targeted at particular groups, such as the pupil premium. The additional resources included in the Somerset Graduated Response Tool on whole school costed provision plans and individual pupil costed provision plans support this strategic approach to SEN funding.
When to use - strategic planning and monitoring of SEN funding
NASEN Whole school costed provision map is to be used before the new academic year to plan provision for pupils across the whole school based on identified needs.
Whole School SEN Funding Overview to be used before the new academic year to plan SEN expenditure based on information within the whole school and the costed provision map.
When to use - individual pupil planning and tracking of SEN funding
When making a Request for Statutory Assessment to evidence where the school contribution towards the costs of special educational provision for pupils with high needs is above the notional SEN budget of £6,000 per pupil per annum.
When schools are struggling to meet the needs of a pupil with an EHC plan and evidencing where the school contribution towards the costs of special educational provision for pupils with high needs is above the notional SEN budget of £6,000 per pupil per annum and exceeds the additional element 3 funding.