Special Educational Needs & Disability High Needs Top-Up & Banding Allocations

Request for Information: Special Educational Needs & Disability - High Needs Top-Up & Banding Allocations for Mainstream Schools, Mainstream SEN Unit / Resourced Provision, and Special Schools. I would like to request the following information:



1) Information that describes 'top-up', 'banding,' 'matrix,' or 'element' arrangements that the Council uses to guide its allocation of High Needs Block funding to mainstream schools, resource base / units in mainstream schools, and special schools;



2) Information showing the maximum High Needs or Top-Up funding allocation (in pounds) that each specific band, matrix point, or element attracts in the current financial year (2025-26);



3) Information showing the maximum High Needs or Top-Up funding allocation (in pounds) that each specific band or element attracted for the previous financial year (2024-25).



4) If funding allocations for each band/element in 2025-26 are identical to those in 2024-25, please say so.



5) If it is more efficient for you to provide these allocations based on academic years rather than financial years, please use academic years instead.



6) If the Council has changed its banding arrangements during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 periods, please provide information showing the previous banding arrangements as well as the current ones.



7) For special schools or units/RPs where banded funding is not used, please provide information showing the High Needs Block 'top-up' allocation per place.

1) Link to latest High Needs Operational Guidance

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-needs-funding-arrangements-2025-to-2026/high-needs-funding-2025-to-2026-operational-guide

2)

3) 

4) See above

5) N/A

6) N/A

7) N/A