[SENco-forum] delegated funding for SEN fears

We have had devolved budgets for a long time now.

It did not work in the beginning as the switchover was calculated on a lot
of things but including areas of deprivation, free school meals, and
existing statements.

So being sandwiched between two wealthy areas didn't help, low take up of
free meals even though eligible and only 2 Statemented children due to poor
management and no real SENco was a disaster.

The then official 30% SEN is now about 46% ( with more not identified) 5
children were Statemented post devolution - all of which had to come out of
very little money due to the calculations.

The school is good about not only ring fencing SEN money but adding to it
from its own budget to ensure a TA in every class (woo!).  With nearly 1/2
the class requiring huge differentiation and a large amount of SEBD/& AD(H)D
this is a must.

Does it work now?  No, but this is because there just is not enough money.
I don't like the Statement process as it is weighted against the child, too
bureaucracy heavy and support light, but they are needed to protect
vulnerable children.

My own are constantly having their support nibbled at purely because the
school is always saying they have children that are worse off............Not
my problem.

Management should be supporting or Statementing these children, but avoid it
to save 'their' money.  If the parent does not make a fuss it is never
mentioned as an option, or in my friends case being fobbed off with reasons
why the school can support their child just as well without Statementing.  I
agree that schools should be able to do this, but the reality is that the
child is often short-changed and there is no monitoring and come back system
in place when this happens.

Sharon