Mainstream maintained schools and academies are notified each year of a clearly identified but notional budget, within their overall budget allocation, towards the costs of provision for pupils with SEN. Using funds from the schools block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG), local authorities are responsible for calculating the amount of this notional budget using their local mainstream schools funding formula factors.
The DfE has published guidance for the 2023/24 funding year in an effort to get some consistency of approach at local authority level, but also to help schools understand how the amount has been calculated, and when it might be appropriate to seek additional resources.
This guidance includes examples which have been updated in response to ASCL’s conversations with DfE colleagues about the assumptions used. The full guidance can be accessed
here.