How our funding works
Special schools are financed differently from mainstream settings, which means it is not simple to compare costs or overall value for money between the two.
For SEND funding, mainstream schools receive a per‑pupil amount, a fixed sum (“element 2”) to support more common (“high-frequency”) special educational needs, and an individual “top‑up” allocation for pupils with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.
All special schools are funded for an agreed number of places at £10,000 per place each year, and also receive a top‑up amount for each pupil on roll. Every pupil attracts the same level of top‑up unless a temporary significant need has been agreed, or there is a medical, physical, or other long‑term disability requiring additional support over time.
In mainstream settings, funding from an EHC plan often provides support that is additional to or different from what most pupils receive — usually through specific interventions or targeted adult support. In special schools, most of the funding contributes to the universal offer for all pupils, which is adapted to meet their communication and interaction needs, cognitive and learning needs, SEMH needs, and physical or medical requirements. Targeted and specialist interventions are generally intended to be short‑term, although they may recur. Some pupils’ complex needs or disabilities may require extended additional provision.
The current financial picture
The school continues to operate in a financially challenging national context, where funding increases have not matched rising costs. Careful planning and regular budget reviews remain vital to ensure resources are used effectively to support pupils’ learning and wellbeing.
There are still financial uncertainties related to the wider pressures on local authority budgets, particularly within SEND services. The school continues to work closely with the Local Authority to manage these risks and to ensure funding arrangements support the school to maintain our high quality offer.
Maintaining a sustainable financial position remains a key focus. Budget decisions are closely aligned with curriculum planning, staffing structures, and pupil support, ensuring that available funds are directed towards providing high‑quality education and care for all learners.
The number of school employees with a gross annual salary of £100,000+: 1
Trade union facility time for maintained schools in Hackney is set and funded by the Local Authority. For transparency, the most recent data on staff time allocated to trade union duties can be found here:
https://hackney.gov.uk/transparency
