Ministers have unveiled SEND reforms they say will “rebalance” funding and hand schools more cash up-front. Officials are consulting on proposals to give local authorities the power to transfer high-needs cash into school budgets, in a bid to reduce leaders’ “reliance” on extra town hall funding to meet SEND costs. Here’s what you need to know… Current approach Mainstream schools are currently expected to meet the first £6,000 of additional support costs for pupils with special educational needs. This threshold is called notional SEND funding. They are allocated top-up funding through local authority high needs budgets to meet costs above this level, usually for those with education, health and care plans (EHCPs). But the government said notional SEND funding “has not changed since 2013, a figure itself based on 2009 costs, resulting in a more than 50 per cent decrease in real terms”. This has resulted in a “greater reliance” on top-up funding, leaving “some pupils who were previously supported from school budgets… now partly funded by local authorities”. ‘Rebalancing funding’ Instead, the government wants to increase the £6,000 notional SEND threshold through the transfer of cash from high needs budgets. It’s hoped this will “rebalance funding to increase the share mainstream schools receive upfront”. There is “no requirement” for local authorities to make these changes, ahead of broader reforms in 2029-30. The government believes giving schools increased amounts upfront will address concerns the existing system “is tying a large share of funding to statutory assessments, delaying support and diverting staff time into bureaucracy”. DfE applications Councils wanting to shift funding in this way will need to apply to the Department for Education first. Those given the greenlight “would decide how much funding to move from their high needs budget… to fund that change, and how that funding is distributed amongst schools”. The money will be distributed to schools through a locally determined formula. “These arrangements will provide an opportunity to test and learn, helping DfE and the sector gather practical evidence about what works and how this can be delivered effectively before any wider implementation,” the consultation papers said. Participating councils will “retain the ability to provide ‘top-up’ funding where it is required”. ‘Careful safeguards’ The documents stressed officials “have built in careful safeguards to manage risks”. This includes having to secure “DfE’s approval before any local authority would make a change to the level of SEND support schools pay for from their core budget”. This will government to “ensure the responsibilities of schools under new arrangements are deliverable and appropriately funded”.