Learning Disability

Mr. Hancock
To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what mechanisms are in place to ensure that funding allocated to local authority learning disability budgets is not spent on other areas; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight
We allocate revenue funding to local authorities via the Dedicated Schools Grant. The allocation to each local authority recognises through proxy indicators the needs of pupils in the authority but is provided for all defined responsibilities of local authorities and schools. It is not possible to specifically identify a sum for learning disabilities. The local authority will then apply its local funding formula, which will have been developed in consultation with the Schools Forum, to allocate funding to the schools in their area and to ensure that their formula takes account of the individual needs and pressures of their schools.

Schools have a duty under section 317 of the Education Act 1996 to use their best endeavours to make the necessary provision for pupils with SEN. In May 2008, an interactive website was published on the Audit Commission website, which helps schools determine if their spending on children with special educational needs is offering value for money and making real improvements to outcomes.