ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ has developed the Mainstream School SEND Banding Framework document (PDF) in partnership with maintained and other state-funded mainstream schools, ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ Educational Psychology Service, SEND Advice ÄûÃʵ¼°¹, Physical and Sensory Support Service, Therapies and Education Finance.
In the past, funding for children with an EHC plan was allocated to schools at a set hourly rate paid through the High Needs Block in the form of Individual Pupil Support Budget (IPSB). This rate was based on a notional amount, identified for support provided by a Teaching Assistant (TA).
After consultation with School Headteachers and Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCO), ÄûÃʵ¼°¹ moved to a banding system for funding for children with an EHC plan. This system allows schools greater flexibility to use each child's funding on a variety of interventions, activities and resources, in the most appropriate way to deliver the provision outlined in their EHC plan.
The bands within this framework apply to EHC plan funding, where a pupil attends a mainstream school or sixth-form. Specialist schools, resourced/ centre provision within a mainstream school, post-16 further education (FE) other than at sixth-form and National Curriculum Year groups lower than NCY0 have their own funding arrangements or Banding Frameworks.
The purpose of the banding framework is to provide a shared understanding for schools, the local authority, other education related professionals, parents/carers, and services such as health and social care, to:
- Assist in identifying the support level required for children and young people with additional needs alongside the Ordinarily Available Provision document for Schools.
- Provide guidance on provision recommended to meet these needs.
- Contribute to the development of inclusive practice.
- Provide a framework to support robust decision-making in relation to Education, Health and Care (EHC) Needs Assessments and Annual Reviews.
- Determine the funding that the local authority pays to mainstream schools for children with an EHC plan.
Levels of Support
There are six bands within the framework:
- Special Educational Needs (SEN) Support
- Targeted 1
- Targeted 2
- Enhanced 1
- Enhanced 2
- Bespoke
Each level of need and provision builds on that described at the previous level, as part of graduated response describing increased complexity and intensity of need.
Funding follows a child based on their holistic needs and the provision stated in their EHC plan, rather than depending on hours of one-to-one support.
For more information about the levels of support, please see the Mainstream School SEND Banding Framework document (PDF).