Special Educational Needs Funding

Schools and other education providers in Cheshire East receive funding to support pupils with special educational needs through their delegated budget. This enables them to provide the SEN Support stage of the graduated approach. An overview of funding for SEND in educational settings is available in the Cheshire East Toolkit for Inclusion.

It is up to each school/provider to decide how to spend their allocation for special educational needs. Some schools may choose to fund extra teaching or non-teaching staff to support pupils with special educational needs and/or use this funding to provide interventions and resources. Others may pay for additional time for the school’s Special Educational Needs coordinator (SENCO) to work with pupils. This funding will also cover the school’s duties around the provision of specialist equipment and aids.

Funding for Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans

There is an additional allocation of funding (often referred to as ‘Top-up funding’) for children and young people with the most complex needs who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. This is monitored through the EHC Plan at annual review meetings.

The table below shows how existing EHC Plans will be moved to the new model in line with their current funding total:

Who should I speak to if I need further information

Parents/carers: If you have any questions about the funding model for EHC Plans, please speak to the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) in your child’s school in the first instance. The SENCO will also discuss this with you at your child’s next annual review meeting. If you have further queries, please send them to SENDpartnerships@cheshireeast.gov.uk and we will do our best to assist.

Schools: If you have any questions about the funding model for EHC Plans, or if you wish to discuss the change with a school involved in the pilot and working group, please contact SENDpartnerships@cheshireeast.gov.uk and we will do our best to assist.