Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what mechanisms are in place to ensure that there is no delay in the provision of funding for a pupil who moves school after the start of a new academic year.

There is a delay in funding as schools are generally funded for the number of pupils they had based on the previous year’s school census. This provides schools with greater stability and predictability in planning their budgets. However, we are aware of the difficulties that some schools experiencing an influx of pupils after the start of an academic year can face. This is why local authorities can use a mobility factor in their local funding formula to give additional funding to schools that have a large number of pupils entering at non-standard entry times. We have also given local authorities the option of setting up a growth fund, which can support schools taking on more pupils because of the need for extra places in the area.