Funding for SEN in Devon M/Stream Schools

[Hectorshouse]

As usual with nothing more important to do ... glances around whilst still sat in my dressing gown and realises that house looks like a bomb ... oh well!!!

 

Anyway, digging on the DCC website trying to find if they have an update on their Strategy & Provision for Pupils with needs on the Autistic Spectrum (sept 03) and I came across this ...

 

http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/your_council...ort_sf0515.html

 

What it seems that they are doing is stopping the issue of statements for children below 0.6 fte (T gets 0.8 + lunch time assistance exceptional support to give an idea which basically means f/time support) and delegating funds directly to the schools ... I would be interested what others think of their proposals for SEN funding due to be initiated in April 06.

 

HHxx

[LKS]

HH My LEA have devolved funding straight to schools for pupils with high incidence statements for at least a year. My son has a statement with 15hours of LSA support specified. When he transferred to secondary school, the funding did not go with him. When I asked about this the LEA said that it is far better for the pupils as the money is available for them without having to go through lots of time consuming paperwork. However I told them that if the pupil is statemented they would have already gone through the 'time consuming paperwork' and the funding should be available to transfer with them anyway. I asked my MP about this as well and he said that there was lots of consultation with heads before it was decided that this was the best method. For who I wonder

[littlenemo]

it is interesting to note here that in law it does not matter how the statement is funded, or even not funded, as long as it is met.

 

if a school is not given enough by the LEA then they must find the money from somewhere else. This is not fair, but it is between the school and the LEA.

If, however, the lack of funding does lead to the statement not being met in full then the LEA are totally and wholly responsible for ensuring this is rectified regardless of funding.

 

 

I picked up on the 0.6 straight away, before I finshed reading your post, HH, and this is a blanket policy - it is illegal. A child might actually need very little support but need a statement because the support that is needed might be very specialised or not normally available within an ordinary mainstream school.

 

IPSEA might like this document!

 

Zemanski

[Hectorshouse]

I have emailed IPSEA with this document and asked for their advice, I will keep you updated with any response, and am now keeping a very close eye on the DCC schools forum meetings and agendas

 

HHxx

[reuby2]

HI I've just asked for advice for a friend of mine under Statement funding.. where does it come from?

Is my query related to this thread? We don't live in Devon though we live in the midlands.