Delivering provision
When a new Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan is written or updated, Somerset gives the education setting the money they need. This money comes from:
- Notional funding (money schools already get), and
- High Needs Band funding (extra money for children with more complex needs)
The school or college is told how much money they’re getting and must use it to provide the support in the plan. Find out more on our Funding for education costs page. If this funding isn’t enough to arrange all the provisions, the local authority can work with the educational setting to agree to provide additional funding. This is called a costed plan.
Making arrangements for provision
After a new plan is written or if your child moves to a new school, it’s a good idea to talk to the school about the support in the plan. Ask:
- When will the support, equipment or help start?
- Is anything being ordered or arranged (for example training)?
- How long will it take?
This helps you understand what’s happening and when your child will get the support.
Raising concerns about provision
If you think the education setting isn’t giving the support listed in the Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, speak to the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) or Special Educational Needs (SEN) lead. You can ask:
- Why isn’t the interventions, equipment or support being provided?
- What steps are they taking to arrange to put the interventions, equipment or support in place?
- When will the interventions, equipment or support start?
- Can they let you know when it begins?
- If there’s a delay, can they update you?
Most problems can be sorted by talking to the school. See Getting support and advice page for more support with this.
Educational settings unable to deliver provision
If you have a child or young person attending your setting you will be expected to use the notional funding and the high-needs funding to ensure the provision specified in the Education Health and Care plan is provided. Some settings may receive additional funding to ensure the provision can be delivered. If you are finding it difficult to put into place the interventions, equipment or support listed in the Education Health and Care plan it’s important you contact the local authority to let us know.
You should contact the Inclusion Advice Line on 0300 123 2224, asking for the Inclusion Advice Line when prompted.