Who is supposed to fund 1-1 care of an SEN child?

[naruto]

Hi there I wondered id anyone out there can help ? I wanted to find out who is supposed to fund a carer for a sen child. Is it supposed to come out of the school budget or from the LEA, and if it is from the LEA can anyone point me to somewhere where I can get this sort of information/ evidence in writing whether it be a website or document.

Thanks so much

Rob

Helo nuruto

This Is the million dollar question. It really is.

Often what happens is the LA delegate some funds to their schools to cover SEN provision in general. If a child needs 1:1 then, up to a certain number of hours, the school will be expected to fund it. You can perhaps ask your LA for their formula or details, or you can ask the school. Be prepared for the vaguest of answers though and keep on badgering.

hth

Ot also depends on the amount of care needed, if it is many hours per week then that needs to be put in a 'statement of educational needs' which is mostly funded by the LEA although there is a complicated and varied matrix for funding a Teacher Aide for a child with SEN even if they have a statement. If it is just a few hours per week and the child is on School Action + then the funding - usually - comes from within the schools budget.

At least from my understanding - it is so complex that it may be wrong, but not from my experience!

Yes i have a feeling it is very complex and that there is no definitive answer she's been statemented and we were "let down" so to say by child services we have letters from consultants and along with our wishes for 1-1 but I think the LEA are just being awkward and so finding it in black and white or something legally binding would be great.

thanks though

have you got a SEN code of practise ? google it and read it - it gives you most of the info you need as to what the LEA have to do and what youa re entitled to

I think it also depends on whether the support needs are considered educational (ie a TA to help with learning) or medical (ie nurse on call).
It is my understanding that a statement is binding ie if it states 10 hours 1:1 learning support then that is what should be provided and if she is not there is scope to challenge it. However if the statement is woolly and just for instance states support with developing a range skills or says 'including a mixture of small group and individual support, then its harder!!