Management Information Sheet
Cluster SEN Funding
The SEN Cluster Memorandum is available on the EFS Website from Friday 8 February.
Following consultation and additional information from the DFE there have been some minor changes to the implementation of the cluster arrangements as set out in the consultation documents.
This does not affect the principles of the cluster working arrangements. The information below sets this out;
Cluster SEN Funding
September 2012 was the start date for the introduction of the new arrangements for the funding of SEN within mainstream schools, namely the process of full delegation of SEN funding to schools via school clusters.
It is no longer possible to phase the introduction of Pupil Specific Funding, to school clusters, over a 7 year period. The changes to the overall funding arrangements introduced by the Government has meant that delegation to school clusters will need to take place in full, from April 2013.
To ensure that adjustments can be made by clusters a short transition period has been implemented for the new SEN cluster funding arrangements, as agreed at the Schools Forum on 12 December 2012. This sees a cap on gains of 15% and a reduction of no more than 10% for cluster funding for one year only.
In addition a exceptional circumstances fund, to be used according to a set criteria, has been included as part of the new funding model.
Academies
Academies have different accounting years to the Local Authority and will receive via the EFA 5/12 of the PSF in their budgets in 12-13 to cover their statements. This will not equate to children as the numbers and pupils will have changed in year.
To accommodate this the cluster memo will decrease the cluster money available by 5/12 generated by academies., because Academies will receive this funding from the EFA direct. This may be done at a later stage for those who become academies between March - August. Presently we have only done this for existing academies.
The amount available to the academies via the new delegation* has also been reduced by 5/12 and given to the cluster. So we have shown a net adjustment against the academy on the cluster memo.
The PSF for the previous year has also been reduced on the memo to enable us to calculate the protection correctly.
*New delegation - New money delegated to schools and thus outside the MFG.
Following consultation and additional information from the DFE there have been some minor changes to the implementation of the cluster arrangements as set out in the consultation documents.
This does not affect the principles of the cluster working arrangements. The information below sets this out;
Cluster SEN Funding
September 2012 was the start date for the introduction of the new arrangements for the funding of SEN within mainstream schools, namely the process of full delegation of SEN funding to schools via school clusters.
It is no longer possible to phase the introduction of Pupil Specific Funding, to school clusters, over a 7 year period. The changes to the overall funding arrangements introduced by the Government has meant that delegation to school clusters will need to take place in full, from April 2013.
To ensure that adjustments can be made by clusters a short transition period has been implemented for the new SEN cluster funding arrangements, as agreed at the Schools Forum on 12 December 2012. This sees a cap on gains of 15% and a reduction of no more than 10% for cluster funding for one year only.
In addition a exceptional circumstances fund, to be used according to a set criteria, has been included as part of the new funding model.
Academies
Academies have different accounting years to the Local Authority and will receive via the EFA 5/12 of the PSF in their budgets in 12-13 to cover their statements. This will not equate to children as the numbers and pupils will have changed in year.
To accommodate this the cluster memo will decrease the cluster money available by 5/12 generated by academies., because Academies will receive this funding from the EFA direct. This may be done at a later stage for those who become academies between March - August. Presently we have only done this for existing academies.
The amount available to the academies via the new delegation* has also been reduced by 5/12 and given to the cluster. So we have shown a net adjustment against the academy on the cluster memo.
The PSF for the previous year has also been reduced on the memo to enable us to calculate the protection correctly.
*New delegation - New money delegated to schools and thus outside the MFG.