The autumn spending review set out £1.2bn in funding for schools to cover forthcoming national insurance increases and “wider cost pressures”, including the new £30,000 starting salary for teachers, as well as fuel price rises.

That funding, the schools supplementary grant, has been handed directly to mainstream schools, but it goes via local authorities to special schools, alternative provision and hospital schools through the high needs budget. Mainstream schools are getting a 4% funding increase per pupil, but some councils are not passing on any of the increase to special, AP and hospital schools.

1. We wondered if you could tell us how much of an increase your council was passing on to special, AP and hospital schools this financial year?
2. Could you also tell us what methodology you have used to decide how much to pass on?

We have one maintained special school. We did not pass an increase on to them for 2022-23 after a review of their current financial position. We have one academy special school that has had a service level agreement in place from when the academy trust took over and the rates are set in the service level agreement. We increased the funding for our pupil referral unit and hospital school for 2022-23.