Special Educational Needs & Disability – Funding Allocations
Case reference FOI2023/01758
Published 7 November 2023
Request
I would like to request the following:
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 (2023-24);
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 (2022-23).
· If funding allocations for each band/element in 2023-24 are identical to those in 2022-23, please say so.
· If it is more efficient for you to provide these allocations based on academic years rather than financial years, please use academic years instead.
· If the Council has changed its banding arrangements during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 periods, please provide information showing the previous banding arrangements as well as the current ones.
· For special schools where banded funding is not used, please provide information showing the High Needs Block 'top-up' allocation per place.
Response
I would like to request the following:
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;
This information is publically available on the Herefordshire Council website and can be viewed via the following link:
As such we consider this information to be exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 because it is reasonably accessible to you via other means. Please take this letter as a refusal notice under S17 of the Act.
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 (2023-24);
Please see the attached spreadsheet.
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 (2022-23).
Please see the attached spreadsheet.
· If funding allocations for each band/element in 2023-24 are identical to those in 2022-23, please say so.
· If it is more efficient for you to provide these allocations based on academic years rather than financial years, please use academic years instead.
· If the Council has changed its banding arrangements during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 periods, please provide information showing the previous banding arrangements as well as the current ones.
· For special schools where banded funding is not used, please provide information showing the High Needs Block 'top-up' allocation per place.
The above banded funding is used for all schools.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.