Element 3 funding
Intentions and high-level principles of the Element 3 model
The new model combines the benefits of a 'needs led' and 'money follows the child' approach, whilst considering cohorts as well as individual children. The LA also wants to provide the certainty and stability that formula funding via proxy indicators can achieve. This is with the aim of supporting schools to meet need earlier and more effectively, consequentially reducing the escalation of need and demand for specialist provision.
High-level principles and key features to be in place:
- Funding to be applied fairly and transparently across the county
- Controls for funding
- Mechanisms to ensure funding is being used for its intended purpose
- To focus funding where there is most complex need
- Funding to be able to be used flexibly by schools across their high SEND cohorts
- Funding needs to be linked to evidence
- A mechanism to recoup funding that is not used appropriately
- To work collectively within the system to meet high needs within the budget available
