EHCP: Funding and Personal Budget
Funding in Mainstream Schools
Mainstream schools have funding to support children and young people with SEND. The following funding is available:
- The Basic Entitlement. This was previously known as the Age Weighted Pupil Unit (AWPU). This is the rate local authorities set to allocate basic entitlement funding for pre-16 pupils in mainstream schools. The funding comes from the Government and pays the basic costs for every child in the school regardless of any SEN.
- Notional SEN Budget. Mainstream maintained schools and academies are notified each year of a clearly identified but notional budget, within their overall budget allocation. This is allocated via formula. This includes factors relating to pupil numbers (Basic Entitlement), deprivation and attainment. It is used to provide more support for all children with SEN and may be used for individual children. This funding should be used to pay for the first £6k of any costs that a child with SEND has, including those with an EHCP.
- Top Up Funding. This is sometimes referred to as Element 3 funding. This is for a child or young person that has an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP). This is funding decided during an EHC needs assessment or following an annual review of an EHCP. Amounts will vary depending on the child’s needs. In East Sussex, we agree different bands of funding that relate to the support that may be required to meet different needs.
A child with an EHCP has access to the Basic Entitlement, Notional SEN Funding, and their own Top Up Funding.
SEND is an acronym for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.
Funding in Specialist Facilities (Resourced Provisions)
The following funding is available for specialist facilities attached to mainstream schools:
- Place Funding. This is sometimes called Element 2 funding. This is set by the DfE and is based on the principle that Element 2 should total £10k. This is made up of Basic Entitlement funding and additional place funding.
- Top Up Funding for each child with an EHC plan. This is a set amount for every child depending on which specialist facility they are attending. In East Sussex, we have a Single Value Top-up (SVT) for each child in each school.
Funding in Special Schools
The following funding is available for special schools:
- Place Funding. This is sometimes called Element 2 funding. This is set by the DfE and is currently £10k per place and is the same for every special school. Special schools get place funding for every agreed place at their school.
- Top Up Funding for each child with an EHC plan. This is a set amount for every child depending on which special school they are attending. In East Sussex, we have a Single Value Top-up (SVT) for each child in each school.
Funding Post-16
We can provide High Needs Funding to post 16 providers. We do this if any young person with an EHCP needs a higher level of support to access provision.
National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTi) have more information about funding of students aged 16-25 with SEND, on their site:
Education Personal Budget
Parents of children under 16, and young people aged 16 to 25, can ask for an education personal budget. They can ask for a personal budget:
- once we have confirmed that we will issue an EHCP, or
- during an annual review of an EHCP.
A personal budget is an amount of money that is available to spend on support for a child or young person with an EHCP. This is to deliver the provision in Section F of an EHCP.
Personal budgets can give you more choice. For example, you can ask for someone other than the school to provide some of the education in the EHCP.
We may agree a personal budget if:
- the funding can be separated from the school or college budget.
- there’s no extra cost to us.
- it will help meet the outcomes in the EHCP.
If you have interest in a personal budget, speak to your Assessment and Planning Officer (APO).
You can find out more by reading the Personal Budget Guidance and the Personal Budget Policy documents:
There is also information about the Local Authority’s duties, policies, and procedures relating to Personal Budgets in the Code of Practice:
How You Will Receive Your Personal Budget if Your Request Is Agreed
If a personal budget is agreed, consideration of whether it is still required forms part of each annual review of the EHCP.
There are four different ways a personal budget can be managed:
Direct payment
This is where you receive the money yourself so you can buy the support that your child needs. Using direct payments means you will have control and choice over how to meet your child’s needs. However, it also involves more responsibility for you in managing these services compared to the other personal budget management methods.
You may decide to use direct payments to buy a service from a provider, such as a therapist, or to use a sensory room. Alternatively, you may decide to employ a personal assistant to support your child. This means you would have all the legal responsibilities of an employer.
Third party arrangement
This is where funds to buy the support your child needs are paid to someone else. This can be either a named individual or an organisation, to manage on your behalf. This offers control over how services are provided for your child and you won't have to organise and manage those services.
By an arrangement
In East Sussex, we usually pay personal budgets through an “Arrangement”. This is where the Local Authority continues to hold all the funds and makes all the support arrangements.
For personal budgets by “Arrangement”, the Local Authority enters into an agreement with providers. Parents and young people can be involved in identifying the providers. The Local Authority pays the provider on the production of monthly invoices. This way, East Sussex County Council becomes the contracting party and assumes that responsibility.
Having a personal budget by “Arrangement” includes transparency about how much funding is available to meet your child’s needs. It also allows discussion with you about how we should spend that money.
For support outside of the school system, support providers will be subject to the following quality assurance requirements:
- Proof of enhanced DBS check(s)
- Provide a copy of an up-to-date safeguarding policy
- Proof of professional qualifications and CV
- Proof of professional body registration (if applicable)
- Certificate of public liability insurance – minimum of £10 Million
- Certificate of professional indemnity insurance (Teachers & Tutors only)
- Undergo a check employment status for tax (IR35)
A combination of the above
It is possible to have a combination of the above. The Local Authority may continue organising some of the services for your child, while they also provide you money to buy other support. You can buy the other support using direct payments.
Reasons the Local Authority May Refuse Your Request for a Personal Budget
A Personal Budget can only be agreed for delivering the provision in Section F of an EHCP.
We may refuse a personal budget if the provision is not in Section F or it would be an ‘inefficient’ use of our resources.
For example, we may refuse a personal budget if the educational setting or a commissioned service can deliver the provision. This could be the Children’s Integrated Therapy and Equipment Service (CITES) which provides therapy services in all East Sussex schools.
If Your Request Is Refused
We will notify you in writing if we refuse your request for a personal budget. You will have the right to request a formal review of our decision.
We have a duty to consider any further representation you make. Following this review, we will notify you of the outcome in writing, and will set out our reasons.
Decisions in relation to the health element of an EHCP remain the responsibility of the Integrated Care Board (ICB). They are under a similar duty to inform you in writing if they decline your request. They will also provide the opportunity for a formal review.
Further Information
If you are interested in a personal budget, speak to your Assessment and Planning Officer (APO). They can give you more information. If you choose to request a personal budget, they will keep you informed throughout the process.
We will return all contact within the Customer Promise. You can learn more about this on the main East Sussex County Council website:
If you need the policy or guidance documents in an alternative format, please contact the Assessment and Planning admin team by:
- Phone: 01273 336 740
- Email: sen.caseworkassistants@eastsussex.gov.uk
Additional Help and Support
Amaze SENDIASS
Amaze SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service) are a local charity. They offer free, independent, and impartial advice for all matters relating to SEND. Contact Amaze SENDIASS by:
- Phone - 01273 772 289
- Email - sendiass@amazesussex.org.uk
Visit the Amaze SENDIASS web page.
East Sussex Local Offer directory of services
You can visit our SEND-specific online directory, hosted on East Sussex 1Space. The directory lists many different services both throughout the county and online. Services cover many topics, including:
- Advice, Guidance and Support Groups
- Activities and Events
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
Visit the East Sussex Local Offer directory.
NHS - Health A to Z
The East Sussex Local Offer aims to provide as much information as possible. There may be some conditions that aren't covered in thorough detail. The NHS website has pages that list all conditions. These pages provide information and advice on how to get extra support:
Visit the NHS Health A to Z web page.
Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms
We explain some of the terms used on this website on our page, Glossary of East Sussex SEND Terms.
Visit the next page: EHCP Moving Into and Out of East Sussex