§ Mr. Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidelines there are for local education authorities to allocate funds for special needs teaching in schools broken down by type of school. [76119]
§ Mr. Stephen TwiggThe allocation of funding to maintained schools by local education authorities is governed by regulations made under section 47 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. The current (2002) regulations give wide discretion to authorities in the factors and criteria to be used for the funding of special needs, both in mainstream schools and in special schools. In November 2001, the Department issued good practice guidanceThe Distribution of Resources to Support Inclusion, on approaches to the delegation and distribution of resources for meeting the needs of pupils with special educational needs and those with other additional needs in mainstream schools. From 2003 onwards the schools forums established under s.43 of the Education Act 2002 will advise local education authorities on their funding arrangements for special needs.