Funding for pupils with SEN

Understand how provision for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) is funded in your school.

Last reviewed on 15 January 2024See updates
School types: AllSchool phases: AllRef: 4735
Contents
  1. Mainstream schools: you'll receive funding in 2 main ways
  2. Funding for pupils in SEN units and resourced provision
  3. Special schools and alternative provision (AP): how you'll receive funding
  4. Personal budgets for pupils with EHC plans

Mainstream schools: you'll receive funding in 2 main ways

1. Your budget or core funding

As a mainstream maintained school, academy or free school, your school will receive resources to support its pupils with special educational needs (SEN) through its main budget, or core funding - this is known as your 'notional SEN budget'. 

Read more about how your school's budget is calculated through the national funding formula (NFF)

Meet the needs