Help EHCPs and Funding for Neurodiversity
Funding for SEND
Each year Leeds City Council receives funding from the government to support and fund educational settings. Some of this money is used for special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision and inclusion. This applies to children and young people who:
- Need extra SEND support in school
- Are a Leeds resident
- Aged between 2 and 25 years
This funding is divided into seven specific bands of need (drop downs). You DO NOT need an EHCP to receive SEND funding in Leeds.
Support might be needed when children and young people learn at a slower pace than their peers, even with appropriate support in place. See more information here.
These children will need to be identified and assessed by a professional from the Visual Impairment Team (VIT).
These children will need to be identified and assessed by a professional from the Deaf and Hearing Impairment Team (DAHIT).
Evidence will be required from an appropriate professional e.g. physiotherapist or paediatrician.
Support might be needed for children and young people with different speech, language and communication skills.
These needs may show in many different ways including withdrawal and isolation or displays of more challenging behaviours.
Medical needs funding tends to cover a range of conditions which are usually chronic and long term.
SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Services
SENDIASS support children and young people with SEND and their families/ carers to get help where needed. They provide free, impartial, and confidential advice and resources on a range of areas, including applying for an EHCP. They have made lots of videos to explain SEND support, which can be found here.
Visit their website.
Funding categories
Schools may apply for additional funding (FFI) to help meet the needs of pupils aged 2-25 years, with SEND, who are Leeds residents. Those with the most complex SEND and who require the highest level of provision receive the most funding. Not every child or young person with additional needs/ diagnosis will need additional funding.
All children and young people are assessed against the same strict criteria to ensure fairness, transparency, and equity. Evidence of working with a range of specialists and supporting documentation from them will be needed to show that funding is appropriate. The SENCO will discuss this process with you if appropriate.
An Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is not needed to secure funding in the Leeds area. See here for more information.
This funding is provided to children with high level needs who are 2, 3 or 4 years old and are educated in school nurseries, children’s centres, private, voluntary or independent (PVI) nurseries and childminders. It is available for Leeds residents or children who are looked after (in care) in Leeds. Settings, education and health practitioners apply for EYFFI and the process for applications is evidence based and must meet set criteria. Applications and decisions are made by a termly EYFFI panel.
Funding only continues to support transition into the next primary phase if a child is considered to have complex needs. Funding does not automatically continue for all children. See here for more information.
This is for children with low level needs and emerging SEND needs. It is available for children aged 3 and 4 until they transfer to Reception. It is provided to children who receive educational provision in school nurseries, children’s centres, private, voluntary or independent nurseries and child minders. Applications must meet criteria and the Funding for Inclusion Team (FFI) considers applications and approves funding. This funding doesn’t automatically continue when the child moves into Reception.
Settings should arrange termly reviews to discuss your child’s progress and review targets. In addition, an annual report must be completed describing the impact of provision and progress for those children who have accessed SENDIF. See here for more information.
Education and Health Care Plans (EHCP)
The majority of children and young people with SEND can have their needs met within their local education setting through the existing resources without the need for an Education Health Care Plan. All settings must take every possible action available to identify, assess and meet the child or young person’s needs
However, if the child/ young person needs more support than their local school can provide under the usual SEND processes, an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) can be applied for. An EHCP is a legal document for a child or young person aged 0-25 years with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The EHCP outlines their educational, health and social care needs, the focused SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely) targets and the support required to achieve them. By law, the educational setting named in the plan must follow what is written.
This is a helpful video, from the Council for Disabled Children (CDC) that explains what an EHCP is and who it is for.
In Leeds, the Special Educational Needs Statutory Assessment and Provision (SENSAP) team is responsible for overseeing all EHCPs and assessments. It’s important to remember that there is strict criterion for EHCP applications and an EHCP is not needed in Leeds to obtain additional funding. Further information can be found via the SENSAP website. We would recommend speaking with your school for further information.
Either parents/ carers or schools can apply for an EHCP for a child/ young person under the age of 16. Young people 16 years or over can apply for their own assessment, if they wish.
- Parents apply by completing the EHC2 form.
- Schools apply by completing the EHC1 form.
- Young people apply by completing the EHC3 form.
You can download these forms below, ask your child’s school for the forms, or contact SENSAP on sensap@leeds.gov.uk or phone 0113 378 5256.
SENDIASS can help parents complete these forms. They have a lot of helpful information on their website. They also run drop in advice sessions and workshops. See more information here.
Assessments take around 20 weeks to complete. They focus on a child’s educational needs and the support that they need to be able to learn.
- Week 1-6 – A specialist panel will meet to discuss your child’s needs and decide if an assessment is needed. Decisions are made based on all the evidence provided, including, academic attainment, details of the child/ young person’s SEND and the impact of any support that has been put into place.
- Week 7-12 – If assessment is agreed then further evidence will be gathered from parents/ carers, schools and any healthcare professionals.
If it is agreed that your child needs an EHCP, the local authority will create a draft plan. A copy of this draft EHCP will be sent to you and you have 15 days to respond, in writing. - By week 16 – if it is agreed that your child needs an EHCP, you have the right to request a meeting to discuss the draft EHCP.
- By week 20 – a final version of the EHCP should be available.
EHCPs are reviewed at least every 12 months to make sure that they’re up to date and still needed. For children under 5 years old, reviews are every 6 months, minimum. EHCP reviews are often referred to as ‘annual reviews’.
This is a helpful video, from the Council for Disabled Children (CDC), that explains EHCP annual reviews.
Leeds Local Offer
The Leeds Local Offer provides information for children and young people with SEND and their parents/ carers in a single place. It shows families what they can expect from a range of local agencies including education, health and social care. The Leeds Local Offer is about providing families with information to make informed choices about services they chose to use.
Links for more information
- More information about schools’ responsibilities in relation to disability is available on the gov.uk website: Disability rights: Education – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
- Information about what kinds of support can be offered is available on the gov.uk website: Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND): Special educational needs support – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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