FAQs
High Needs Funding is allocated to local authorities to distribute funding to settings so that they can make provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who require additional resources to take part in education and learning.
Top Up Funding, is the funding allocated to settings to secure the special educational provision for those children and young people with EHC Plans.
In Hounslow, we have worked with stakeholders across education, health and social care, and with over 40 settings to update our Top Up Funding model, which is modern and new to ensure that the funding allocated to an EHC Plan remains the same regardless of the child or young person’s education setting.
Each local authority can develop and co-produce their own banding system, but themes tend to be similar, featuring different levels and numbers of bands.
Starting from Autumn Term 2025, the new Top Up Funding model will be introduced for children and young people with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan who both live in Hounslow and attend a school in Hounslow.
The transition to the new funding model will begin during the annual reviews in Year 5 and Year 9 and will be rolled out gradually over four years. This phased approach will apply to both existing EHC Plans and newly issued Plans, allowing for a smooth and manageable shift to the new system.
The new model will use a banding system, supported by clear guidance, training, and communication to help everyone involved understand and adapt to the changes.
Top Up Funding is the funding allocated for settings to secure the special educational provision for children and young people with an EHC Plan. MIP funding is allocated to support mainstream schools to apply additional provision for children and young people with special educational needs who receive SEN Support and do not have an EHC Plan.
EHC panels take place every week - these are currently being reviewed with new arrangements from the autumn term 2025.
