The majority of pupils and students with SEND do not require an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
This is because the additional needs these children and young people have are appropriately met through relatively low levels of support, funded through resources already available within the educational placement.
Funding available to meet these needs can, however, seem a little complicated.
For example, schools receive a level of funding for ALL pupils – this is known as Core Funding (sometimes still referred to as Age Weighted Pupil Unit), which is expected to meet the costs of mainstream education.
In addition, all maintained* schools receive a Notional SEN Budget intended to fund most of the special educational provision that pupils require.
From this budget schools are expected to pay for the first £6,000 of special educational provision each year for an individual pupil. This is generally used to fund additional provision in terms of special equipment, Teaching Assistant support, some small group or individual work and some therapeutic interventions.
(*maintained schools means any LA school, or any Academy school or free school)
If the LA decides that an EHCP is not necessary, a SEND Support Plan should be made available, which sets out the range of special educational needs identified by the Assessment, as well the provision required to meet those needs.
The SEND Support Plan carries no legal weight and is not the equivalent of an EHCP.
Ideally, the SEND Support Plan should be sent with the decision letter so that an informed decision can be made as to why an EHCP is regarded as not being necessary. If a decision is explained in detail, with relevant evidence made available, it may help to avoid an appeal.
One of the factors in deciding if a pupil requires an EHCP will be how much the additional provision is expected to cost.
If it can be shown that the required provision is likely to cost significantly less than £6000, this may be a reason not to issue an EHCP.
It is, therefore, crucial that if a LA thinks that an EHCP is not necessary, any SEND Support Plan is detailed and can be accurately costed.
Schools can also access Pupil Premium funding for certain groups of children. This includes children entitled to free school meals, looked-after children and children of armed forces parents.
This can involve support for pupils with SEND if they are eligible for the Pupil Premium.