Priority 5: Repair SEND funding and support
The system for funding students with high needs is a specific area that requires immediate attention. The government should support a move to allocate all funding for students with high needs directly to institutions with increases in student numbers fully funded ‘in-year’. This is essential if we are to ensure that the most vulnerable students receive the support they need and receive it in a timely manner. The growth in SEND students that do not meet the high needs threshold is something that also must be addressed. The government should explore the introduction of a third disadvantage funding block specifically for these students.