Management Information Sheet

Context

Over the past few years funding for SEND within mainstream schools has been accessed in three main ways:

• Formula funding to each individual schools (via proxy indicators)
• Formula funding to each Cluster (via a combination of proxy indicators and targeted funding for physical disability)
• Capacity & Development funding (via referral / bidding to the Local Authority)

It became necessary to cease the capacity and development fund (with effect from 31 March 2016) due to ongoing and significant pressure within the high needs block.

We were aware that this may cause some schools / clusters difficulty in cases where there were levels of exceptionally high and/or complex need. For this reason we have undertaken to do three things:

• Put in place an exceptional circumstances fund of £250,000
• Continue to monitor the use of SEND funding, including joint audit work with Clusters, to ensure that any proposed changes to the current model of delegated top up funding are well informed and ensure that children are appropriately supported.
• Formally review all current spend, and historical basis for budget allocations, across the High Needs Block, i.e. to determine if the overall £69million is targeted to where current and future need is and the balance of funding available across mainstream schools and the specialist sector

What is Exceptional Circumstances Funding?

This is a small budget, annual total allocation of £250,000, to ensure that the Local Authority can allocate funding to schools / clusters where there is clear evidence that other resource options do not exist and the level of need is exceptionally high and/or complex.

Given that this fund is top up to the existing top up funding delegated to Clusters, there is an expectation that all schools and clusters will review their current funding arrangements prior to seeking funding via this route.

Funding can be allocated retrospectively, where agreed, ie the expectation is that schools make appropriate provision in the first instance, and complete cycles of Assess, Plan Do and Review as set out in the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Code of Practice 2014. In other words, schools should not wait for Exceptional Needs funding decisions prior to arranging admission and/or putting in place an SEN support plan.

Criteria regarding requests for exceptional circumstances funding:

1. The school where the child or young person with exceptional needs is on roll, must provide details of how their SEN notional budget has been made.
2. The school’s Cluster must provide details of how the top up fund has been spent and/or allocated for the financial year. The current cluster SEND fund balance must also be provided.
3. The attached application form must be completed in full as this will be the Cluster’s opportunity to set out details of the exceptional level of need and of the financial context leading to an inability to meet need from within their delegated allocation of top up funding.

Completed forms should be returned to the SEND Advisory team (jenny.mitchell@norfolk.gov.uk) and a member of the team will contact you as soon as possible thereafter.