Fair funding and levelling up for pupils with special educational needs
and disability in England 2014 to 2023
Abstract
This study explores the variations in funding by relative need,
allocated to English local authorities (LAs) for special educational
needs and disability, by analysis of the schools National Funding
Formula (NFF). The findings demonstrate continuing and significant
differences in high needs (HN) funding between demographically similar
LAs, despite a £3.5 billion (67%) increase in the HN budget since
2014-15. The funding variations range from £1,066 to £537 per pupil. The
differences are largely the result of historical spending arrangements
together with the application of a funding floor increase of 8% for all
LAs and a funding ceiling of 11%. There is also a significant link
between the level of LA funding and their use of specialist provision
and statutory assessments. The discussion explores the Government’s
policy of fair funding and the NFF implementation, and concludes that
any mechanisms which are applied to protect funding stability should not
undermine levelling up.