High Needs Funding Consultation Decision
SENT ON BEHALF OF SIMON JAMES, SERVICE DIRECTOR: EDUCATION
Dear all,
Thank you very much again for your contributions to the consultation in relation to high needs funding in February 2020. As set out in our email dated 5th May enclosing the Top Up Funding Consultation Evaluation Report, the response to the consultation was overwhelmingly positive and the next step was for the matter to be presented to the Cabinet Member.
I am pleased to confirm that the Cabinet Member has agreed the proposal is to implement a needs led funding system. This is based on a model adapted for Buckinghamshire using a set of descriptors linked to the needs of children and young people. The full decision can be found here: https://buckinghamshire.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=257
The proposal included a recommendation that the new model is implemented on a phased basis beginning with special schools with roll out to mainstream and other settings in future years. Moderation work has been working alongside to enable funding decisions to be in line with the needs of children in schools, to refine descriptors within the model and ensure consistency of assessment across special school settings. Further information will be presented to Schools Forum on 30th June, with a view to roll out of the new model to maintained special schools from April 2021, and to special academies from September 2021.
We look forward to working with you all on this in time, following the phased approach as outlined above, to ensure that all children in Buckinghamshire with Education, Health and Care Plans are appropriately funded for the provision that they need.
Kind regards,
Simon James
Service Director: Education
Children’s Services
Buckinghamshire Council
County Hall, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1UZ
Buckinghamshire Association of School Governors