Overview
The Department for Education (DfE) gives funding to help create new school places, or improve existing provisions, for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
They call this funding the ‘High Needs Provision Capital Allocation’ (or ‘HNPCA’ for short).
Somerset’s Allocations
Somerset Council received HNPCA allocations over the last three financial years:
- 2022-2023: £7.7 million
- 2023-2024: £9.4 million
- 2024-2025: £2.8 million
Projects Funded
High Needs Provision Capital Allocation can fund projects to increase places in special school or alternative provision sites.
It can also be used in mainstream school buildings to support children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities. This helps them stay in mainstream schools instead of moving to more specialist provision.
If Somerset uses the funds wisely, there will be more local options for children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities. This reduces the need to send them to schools far from home and means shorter travel times.
Consultation
When Somerset Council plans a big project, such as a school expansion, we consult with:
- School governing bodies
- Academy trusts
- Parent carers of children on roll
- Local residents
- Other key groups like the Somerset Parent Carer Forum
The decision-makers carefully consider their views. Then, they decide whether to proceed.
Schools Access Initiative
Somerset Council also uses HNPCA to help children and young people with physical disabilities or medical conditions attend local schools. This is done through ‘Schools Access Initiative’ (SAI) projects.