Funding cuts in Support for SN Children

[Eliza22]

Oh yes, I can still hear David Cameron telling us, running up to his election, how children, those with disability, the elderly, those in genuine need of help, would not suffer . What a complete and utter lying git he is.

I had a letter from my son's school yesterday. He's in mainstream secondary (aged 12) with a learning support unit specifically for autism. He has a Statement. We were lucky to get a place for him. It's a good school and he'd never have survived an ordinary mainstream secondary. And, the funding is to be cut drastically. The IPF will not cover a kid in the unit and the school will need to apply for a "top up" for certain kids in order to maintain the current support they receive. The criteria for top up award is narrow, from what little I know, so far.

So, we go through twelve months of applying for the school, then waiting and hoping he's accepted. When a place is awarded we have to convince ds to go on a minibus to a strange new school which none of his peers will attend. We went through tears and anxiety and wondering if we were doing the right thing. We are convicted by the fantastic staff in the unit that they can offer ds more than he'll get at the good secondary, literally over the road from us. And now, NOW the funding's being cut and they're not sure what will be available in future, though they've said this academic year will be "as is"

This, is a country-wide cut. It's coming to ALL special needs kids in education.

Hi Eliza, the funding changes are a worrying time for everyone in the SN world.

However, I'm not sure why you've got the impression his place is at risk? The current system is also a 'top-up' one. Specialist units and Special Schools currently use an 'audit' system and all the children get placed on an audit step from 4-8. Over the top of the base funding, each 'step' is awarded a specific amount of money.

To use an example:

Step 4 £190
Step 5 £2400
Step 6 £5200
Step 7 £8420

Say base funding is £10,000 per child, then a child on Step 6 would be worth £15200 to the school.

So, although it's called something different, the actual system is unlikely to be radically different. Also, you have some protection if your DS has a Statement which names the unit. The LA would have to show that your DS no longer needed its provision, not simply that they have less money.

Yes, I take your point but I think the knock on effect will be a lesser "service".

As for his Statement it makes me smile when I think of when we applied for it. I was told on first application that he did not need it. The second application, was successful and I have to say that it has been vital in getting services we needed. With his statement provision, we got the school place he needed when another child (no statement) did not and is now getting by, though not thriving at the school ds would have gone to, had he NOT had this "unnecessary statement. Surely, if they don't have the same level of funding, they won't have the same pupil/staff ratio? Which translates to less input/attention and may hinder progress.

I may be through of as being unduly cynical here but it seems to me that if the cut off is £10 k for school funded support then for children who are at the say £8.5 k level there will be some benefit to schools to suddenly discover a little more support is needed to get more from the LA and suddenly the cost goes over the cost over the magic £10 k figure.
Remind me of this in about 2 years time.