High Needs Funding - primary schools

[tigerpug]

Sorry, i know I've got another thread running but wanted to start a subject specific to a conversation I had with the SEN assessment team today. I called today to push for more of an explanation about why DS was refused an EHC assessment, a strange conversation really because I was told that the preschool and STS had not supplied various pieces of information when I know they did, as they were included in the paperwork that the assessor sent back to us?!

Anyway, the assessment officer stopped me mid questioning to explain that even though we have been refused a EHC plan for now, DS would still qualify for 'high needs funding" when he starts school. She said this came into effect on 1st April and instead of schools being allocated £6k per pupil for all costs inc staffing, additional needs etc, the system has now been revised and schools are given a flat budget which excludes additional needs. If schools feel that a pupil needs a higher level of support the school can apply for funding for up to 25 hours a week of additional/external support. It would mean that schools can support each pupil individually, not from one central pot of money.

Is this just a Kent thing? Has anyone else heard about this? It sounds too good to be true so I am sure it probably is, but if anyone has any more information or experience of this new system I would love to hear about it. Thanks

The nursery that DS attends applied for this on his behalf. He receives one to one assistance for half of his hours there each week.

Hello Tiger, do you have any charity supporting you? We were refused an EHC assessment a month ago, with the charities support we had a meeting with our head of send dept

It took all off 10 minutes to have her overturn the panels decision and decide to assess after all

Apparently our panel has been making alot of odd decisions and has now been allocated a member of the send team to provide advice to the panel
Could you contact ipsea for advice if there is no charity nearby to help?

Hi Polter, I think you've given me some good questions to throw at the senco of the local primary school. Parental input, previous examples of help they have requested etc

Schrodingers, no charity supporting us unfortunately. I am going to call the EHC assessor today and ask why she said she hadn't received some of the supporting paperwork when we made the request. Perhaps she has simply forgotten, perhaps she misplaced it. Who knows, it all sounds a bit odd to myself and the preschool who gave her the paperwork in person!

Thanks Polter, really helpful. Popped into the school today to attend a get together for parents with additional needs, i mentioned to the head teacher about High Needs Funding and she rolled her eyes and said they hadn't been told anything about it!!

Whaaaat?

Who applied for the ECHP? You or the current setting?

What specifically does your child need it for?

I'd be a bit suspicious of a HT who said they'd never heard of high needs funding tbh.

Tiger Kent refuse assessment as a matter of routine. Always appeal.
The way it then works is that the parents do the assessment themselves and Kent pull out and settle just before the hearing.

And if you cannot afford your own indie assessments go to the Bedgebury Foundation www.thebedgeburyfoundation.org who will contribute depending on your finanacial situation - the less spare you have per week the higher the %of the report they will pay for,

Herts also have a system of applying for Higher Needs Funding specific to the child, but of course the statement or plan should set out what provision your child needs regardless of cost.

If the cost doubles, your child's difficulties do not suddenly halve, so the provision should not suddenly halve....