SEND Mainstream School Banding Review

We asked

BCP Council asked for your views on its review of the banding descriptors and ‘High Needs Block’ funding (also called ‘top-up funding’) that is paid to mainstream schools for supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The proposed changes focused on the criteria used in allocating ‘bands’ to pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), as well as the values associated with each band.

The consultation ran from 28 June until 27 July 2022.

We asked

BCP Council asked for your views on its review of the banding descriptors and ‘High Needs Block’ funding (also called ‘top-up funding’) that is paid to mainstream schools for supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The proposed changes focused on the criteria used in allocating ‘bands’ to pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), as well as the values associated with each band.

The consultation ran from 28 June until 27 July 2022.

Q and A

If you have a question or query about the proposed changes to High Needs Block 'top up funding' in mainstream schools that is not covered in our FAQ section or the Information Document, please enter it here. Once submitted, a member of the team will respond to your question as soon as possible.

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  • It looks like a child currently on Band D, would be Band 3 on the new system (based on my son’s needs). This means he would actually receive less funding under the new system, making it less likely that he would be able to access mainstream provision. A recent meeting with Ep and senco suggested he would need specialist placement. So I presume children are 4/5 would also “need” specialist. The new funding system would make it less likely that they would access mainstream. I’d be pleased you know if you realistically think children at 4/5 funding band would still access mainstream?

    Jules22 asked almost 2 years ago

    Thank you for your question.

    The new banding descriptors provide greater descriptions of the pupil’s special educational needs and its impact and so it is important to note that children and young people on current band would not automatically move to the corresponding number on the new band - therefore the child/young person on the old band D does not automatically move to Band 3 on the new banding model.  There will be cases where the child/young person may move to a higher or lower band depending on individual needs and the progress made as measured through their annual review. Following the child/young person’s annual review, the LA will make a decision as to which new band the pupil best fits and the evidence used to make this decision will take into account their Education Health and Care Plan and their special educational needs, along with the progress reports from school and any additional reports the school have gathered as part of the annual review.

    The new banding descriptors at bands 4 and 5 are also for pupils with EHCP attending mainstream settings. The Local Authority recognises the greater levels of needs of these pupils requiring higher levels of funding within the mainstream schools. 

  • Please can you clarify the following? If your child does not need any top up funding then they do not need an EHCP and they will be managed by send support? My daughter has an EHCP with areas of need identified in several areas especially Physical but the college are supporting her without requiring top up funding. Does this mean in the proposal that her EHCP will end?

    Katrinar asked almost 2 years ago

    Thank you for your question.  

    The new Banding Descriptors are to be used for allocation of funding for pupils in mainstream schools only and are not applicable to the pupils attending mainstream Further Education Colleges, Traineeships or Resources within mainstream school. This is because the Further Education College curriculum is often very different to mainstream school curriculum, often the curriculum is a single vocational area which may also include practical elements, the numbers of weekly hours attended at FE Colleges is less than in a school and importantly the class sizes in FE are usually smaller as they tend to have 15 or so pupils in each class group.

    Nationally, funding for Further Education settings or with Traineeship providers is individualised. FE Colleges will usually outline to the LA whether additional funding is required to meet the provision or not, however the FE colleges are still required to meet the provision that is outlined in the EHCP. 

    With regards to the EHC Plan continuing, this is based on the progress made by the pupil on the outcomes listed in the EHCP, and recommendations from the annual review report. The Local Authority must make one of the following decisions following an annual review:

    • Whether to maintain the EHCP as it is or
    • Whether amendments to the EHCP are required or
    • Whether support is no longer required through EHCP and therefore to cease the EHC Plan
    • Occasionally there may be a recommendation for reassessment - this is usually for a specific reason where the young person or the family make a request in cases such as new needs have been identified and these are not being supported through amendments to the EHC Plan.


    If the young person does not agree with the LA decision regarding their EHC Plan, they have the usual rights to mediation and appeal to the LA decision.

  • What will be available for children who are highly academic but have severe social and emotional needs, the satelitenunit staff have Sen experience from very cheap or free courses, some children are phovibic of people or germs etc. There are children who don't tick the boxes for special school, mainstream or the current eotas provisions. Children are being electively homeschooled, not by choice but by necessity as nothing meets need when they have a right to the right education for them. In the 90s we had the new school, that became Franklyn house and that is exactly what is needed now. Small, homely and fits the high functioning in academics that aren't special needs enough for special school, who don't hit out and scream etc but can't cope with mainstream or satellite units. What is being done for these children?

    Teens asked almost 2 years ago

    Thank you for your question.

    We understand that the current provision in BCP doesn't meet the needs of all children. BCP Council is working with schools and multi-academy trusts to develop provisions that meet a wider range of needs.

  • Will schools be capped at a maximum of 12k additional funding or will they be able to access higher where needed?

    BethBethP asked almost 2 years ago

    Thank you for your question.  

    It is envisaged that the new banding system will provide the support needed for all children. In very exceptional circumstances, the local authority will consider additional funding - this will be determined on a case-by-case basis and need to be agreed to by the SEND Service Manager.

Page last updated: 05 May 2023, 04:35 PM