Decision details

Approval for a disapplication request to the Secretary of State for Education to disapply the Minimum Funding Guarantee for special schools in the determination of special schools’ budget allocations for 2019/20.

*PLEASE NOTE This decision was originally published on or near the date of the decision and so call in no longer applies. It has been re-published as part of the change in committee management system that we use.*

The local authority must normally set a minimum funding guarantee (MFG) for special schools between 0.5% and -1.5% of overall funding. However, where local reorganisation takes place and there are changes to banding, and where the MFG is breached and the local authority proposes to fund below the guaranteed level, the local authority can apply for an exemption to the MFG. Disapplications may also be sought where it is not possible to compare the top-up funding rates between two years, for example, where there has been a major reorganisation of local provision.
The local authority is consulting upon proposals to adopt a new approach to funding for pupils with significant special needs and, specifically, to move from the current "Can- Do" resource allocation methodology to a banded funding model. Introducing the banded funding model will provide a more accurate basis for determining funding for pupils. The Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) has a vital role to play in protecting special schools where either (a) the aggregate needs of pupils in their schools have changed substantially or (b) the level of funding provided to pupils has been systematically reduced. However, in this instance it is considered that some special schools will potentially receive less funding because the resource allocation methodology, subject to the outcome of consultation, will potentially be changed. Therefore, it is proposed that the MFG as it applies to special schools is disapplied for 2019-20 and permission is required from the Secretary of State to do this. This would permit the funding changes resultant from the new resource allocation methodology to take effect in 2019-20. The MFG would be reinstated for special schools for subsequent years.