Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of pressures on the High Needs Block on the wider school budget in Essex.

In the 2025/26 financial year, 17.8% (£8.6 billion) of the schools national funding formula (NFF) has been allocated for additional needs, including factors that correlate with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This supports schools with the costs of inclusion. The most deprived schools, on average, attracted the largest per pupil funding amounts through the schools NFF, reflecting the greater challenges that they will face in fully meeting the needs of their pupils.

Local authorities can also make funding transfers from the mainstream schools’ block of their dedicated schools grant to their high needs budget. Essex County Council made a 1% block transfer in the 2025/26 financial year, after an approved disapplication request. As part of that, the Council provided a detailed plan for the proposed use of the transfer of funds, which set out proposals to target early intervention and prevention, aiming to support schools’ SEND provision and inclusive practice.