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<p>Local authorities are required to provide schools with sufficient funds of up to
£6,000 per pupil, to enable them to meet the additional costs of those with special
educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The local authority can also give additional
funding from its high needs budget to schools that have a disproportionate number
of pupils with SEND, whose additional support costs up to £6,000.</p><p>When the costs
of additional support required for a pupil with special educational needs exceed £6,000,
the local authority should also allocate additional top-up funding to cover the excess
costs. This funding comes from the local authority’s high needs budget. This year,
high needs budgets total just under £6 billion across England, a £142 million increase
since last year. This is explained in the high needs funding operational guide, available
at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-needs-funding-arrangements-2018-to-2019"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-needs-funding-arrangements-2018-to-2019</a>.</p><p>However,
we recognise that there is pressure on schools to do more, which is why we have taken
steps to help them get the best value for every pound. We also recognise that local
authorities are experiencing cost pressures on high needs and are keeping the overall
level of funding for high needs under review.</p><p> </p>
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