School Funding

1. Please provide a description of ‘top-up’, ‘banding,’ ‘matrix,’ or ‘element’ arrangements that the Council use to guide its allocation of High Needs Block funding to mainstream schools, resource base/units in mainstream schools, and special schools.

The Council follow the High Needs Block funding guidance from the Department for Education.

2. What is the maximum High Needs or Top-Up funding allocation for each specific band, matrix point, or element attracts in financial years 2023/24 and 2022/23?

Banding 1            £1,600

Banding 2            £3,100

Banding 3            £4,500

Plus Packages    >£4,500

These figures are the same for both financial years.

3. Has the Council changed its banding arrangements between 2022/23 and 2023/24?

No.

4. If yes, please provide information showing the previous and current banding arrangements.

Not applicable.

5. For special schools where banded funding is not used, please provide information showing the High Needs Block ‘top-up’ allocation per place.

Please refer to the table below. We have provided the value per place for top up funding, which varies per school due to their designations.