The Government’s funding reforms for schools and colleges mean that local authorities are now responsible for arranging and funding all education placements for young people aged 16 to 25 with high needs, not just for those young people stayign on at mainstream school.
With demand for these places rising and funding likely to remain the same, it is vital that these funding arrangements are fair and transparent.
Funding will focus on the learning needs of the young person and be able to follow them as they move between education providers. Schools and colleges will need to demonstrate that they are preparing young people to progress towards outcomes for further study, work, training and/or for living as independently as possible – depending on the young person’s needs.
Guidance is emerging on how the government expects local authorities to develop policies for arranging and funding education placements for all young people aged 16 to 25 with high needs.
Gloucestershire County Counci has developed an interim policy for all new placements starting college courses in September 2014 and also for young people joining a course mid-year. This new policy would only affect current learners where a significant change in level of support is requested or they change their course.
We have consulted on this policy and will make changes in the light of the comments we received.
Some questions arose during the consultation which we have set out in the FAQs sheet.
The interim policy will now go to Cabinet for a decision in the new year. Information is available at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/extra/post16SENreform20