Personal budgets for special educational needs
A personal budget is an amount of money identified to pay for support specified in the education health and care plan. Parents or the young person who have requested a personal budget are involved in securing the provision.
What is a personal budget?
Personal budgets should reflect the holistic nature of an Education, Health and Care Plan and can include funding for:
- special educational provision
- health provision, and
- social care provision.
The personal budget should be designed and focused to
- secure the provision agreed in the Education, Health and Care Plan and
- the outcomes specified in the Education, Health and Care Plan.
When can I request a personal budget?
Parents or the young person have a right to request a personal budget:
- when the local authority has completed an education health and care needs assessment and confirmed that it will prepare an Education, Health and Care Plan.
- during a statutory review of an existing Education, Health and Care Plan.
Personal Budgets are optional for parents or the young person but local authorities are under a duty to prepare a budget when requested.
Where can I find more information?
See our Personal Budget and Direct Payments Policy for more information on
- personal budgets & what they could be used for;
- direct payments
- eligibility criteria
- reviewing or appealing a personal budget or direct payment
- quality assurance.
Any questions should be discussed with your SEND Key Worker. SENDIASS can provide you with impartial information, advice and support.