Band C funding?

[pucca]

I have just called to complain about a report from the Ed Psych and been told the LEA have agreed to SA and ds will be on band C funding in Sept...They will be going for a statement too.

What does this mean? i am clue-less

Is it for a sn school? Here ms is done in hours but sn is in 3 bands & an exceptional one which involves headteachers & tantrums!

Sorry read it wrong , was thinking it was statement funding

What council are you pucca?

Sorry for the delay in coming back...its a ms school, its for ESAP until his statement is sorted out.

I spoke to the Ed Psych who said it is the highest amount possible while waiting for AS.

It is Lancashire

Be careful

This document suggests that they are using ESAP funding in the place of statements while awaiting Stat Assessment. The same as you have been told.

And, it is said on page 3:

"The use of ESAP Funding may well be an appropriate interim measure in an emergency situation. This will provide funding in the short term whilst further information can be collected."

But (page 1):

"Lancashire has introduced Enhanced School Action Plus (ESAP) funding. This is for pupils who meet the criteria for Statutory Assessment but whose needs can be met in mainstream schools without very high levels of additional funding (Band A, B or C).

It is expected that Statutory Assessment will only be required for pupils who have particularly severe or complex enduring special educational needs."

BE Worried read here:

"Enhanced School Action Plus Funding

When the Authority received an RSA and/or when it completes a Statutory Assessment, the decision may be made that the pupil's needs can be met through ESAP Funding. In these cases, an ESAP Funding Agreement will be drawn up and either the Statutory Assessment refusal letter or a Note in Lieu will be issued, (whichever is relevant)."

It sounds like you need to make very sure that your DS is not just being fobbed off with a small bit of funding when he needs a legal document.

Thanks Lougle...If any of them know me by now, they will know i do not accept what is said to me easily, and i nag and nag and nag lol.Thankyou though, i will be keeping what you have written in my head for further use

They have definitely agreed to a SA, i spoke with EP and she works closely with the LEA (infact she physically handed her report to the named officer for ds) and has said it will be pretty straight forward and shouldn't take too long.

She said i will receive a letter asking for me to accept a SA, and once they get that back they will collect info/reports.

Do you know what this band C is? EP said it is the highest amount of funding possible for him, and said it was a good result to see ds through to statement.

Here is the document detailing all the Bands and what they actually mean. Banding goes A-H; A low, H high

C (2.0) ESAP

Increased targeted individual support in 2 or 3 specific areas of need.

Cognition and Learning
Individualised curriculum provided for the pupil for some of the day.
Frequent specialist advice for school staff on how to enable full access to the curriculum or weekly input to provide support for identified curriculum or skill areas with differentiated activities and resources in small groups or 1:1 settings.
Assistance with recording for several curriculum areas.

Communication and Interaction
Support to facilitate effective communication, interaction and curriculum access / personal development through a specified therapy programme and for some of the day.
Targeted support to develop attention and concentration skills.
Regular SLT advice or input from staff with relevant expertise.
General and visual strategies to enhance the communication environment throughout the day.

Sensory
Support to implement mobility and health care plans.
Some use of multi sensory strategies /
Support to develop fine and gross motor skills.
Strategies or support to promote self-help / independence skills.
Frequent specialist external or qualified HI or VI specialist teacher advice.

Social Emotional and Behavioural
Ongoing support as identified in Bands A (3 or 4 programmes) and B above.
Individualised support programmes as advised by an appropriate specialist teacher or educational psychologist or other specialist professionals.
Access to a Key Worker in addition to times of transition.
Integrated home-school support plan

I think they can band statements, but they can't hide behind that banding to form 'blanket policies' or to avoid specifying or quantifying a statement.

The EP was right though - 'Band C' is the highest level of ESAP funding.

What I don't agree with, is the EP's implication that this is the level of statement you would get anyway, because it is subconsciously setting you up to either be grateful that you got a statement with 'band c' funding or accept a note in lieu on the basis that you are getting 'band c' funding and that is enough for your child's needs.

Ah i get you, oooh i heart Mumsnet for this type of thing

Thanks very much.

Oh yes. I agree with tribunalgoer. J's first Statement was 'a very high level of funding' and 'the highest a child with his needs will ever get'. There was 'no point appealing as the Panel will never award more than that'...17.5 hours for my extremely violent, challenging, running-off-at-the-first-sign-of-trouble 4 year old autistic son. I didn't actually appeal that at the start as I was so worn down by the year-long battle to get the damn Statement in the first place and, more importantly, the school were able to pay for the extra hours needed to make up the full-time support from their own money.

However, I did later ask for amendments from 17.5 hours, with the backing of the school, at the next 2 Annual Reviews. Panel said no. Appealed to SENDIST...never actually got there as LA backed down and awarded full-time and agreed to wording specifying level of training and experience etc.

Bands mean fuck-all, really. It's the number of hours and type of support to meet the needs of the child that should be in the statement. Never accept their lies about maximum limits either. Was told a number of times how no child could get full-time support. Lies lies lies!

Band C in Lancs seems to be a half full time hours statement. You need a Band D for full time. ESAP is being dissolved in April 2011 in Lancs. They are giving schools based on free school meals extra money for SEN instead.

Band C funding here used to be emergency funding for a child who had needs which could not be met by the school, often pending a Statement. It was also considered to be very lucky to get it.

Imahappycamper...Whereabouts are you?

Is it pre school funding because that would make it full time funding (because pre school is about 15 hours a week)until your child started Reception in September by which time the statement might be well on its way to being sorted.

Lancashire has introduced Enhanced School Action Plus (ESAP) funding. This is for pupils who meet the criteria for Statutory Assessment but whose needs can be met in mainstream schools without very high levels of additional funding (Band A, B or C).

It is expected that Statutory Assessment will only be required for pupils who have particularly severe or complex enduring special educational needs."

Awful, awful, awful. Probably illegal to boot as well.

ESAP funding agreement is just another way of saying to schools, "here's some cash, now you sort it out". Nothing short of a Statement here is legally binding. As for the note in lieu as well it is simply not worth the paper its written on.

I hope IPSEA know about this and they should be informed; this is bad news indeed for the children of Lancashire who require statements. Lancashire parents need to take note.

Attila here in Lancs they are abolishing ESAP from April 2011 and giving extra money to schools for SEN based on free school meals.

This in particular is very bad:-

"When the Authority received an RSA and/or when it completes a Statutory Assessment, the decision may be made that the pupil's needs can be met through ESAP Funding. In these cases, an ESAP Funding Agreement will be drawn up and either the Statutory Assessment refusal letter or a Note in Lieu will be issued, (whichever is relevant)."

IPSEA really do need to be informed here.

This is yet another delegated funding scheme through which LAs seek to reduce or avoid their legal duties to assess, statement and arrange provision through statements.

I also have a document if anyone in Lancs needs it for tribunal that says ESAP is not suitable for children who have life long difficulties such as ESAP by a scrutiny group to the LCC LEA.