School says there is no funding for SEND support — what can parents do?

Start with the support your child needs

If a school says “there is no funding”, ask what provision it agrees the child needs and what part of that provision it says it cannot secure. This turns a broad budget statement into a specific discussion about needs, provision and responsibility.

Mainstream schools have a best-endeavours duty

The SEND Code of Practice and current Department for Education funding guidance refer to the duty on mainstream schools to use their best endeavours to secure the special educational provision called for by a pupil’s SEN.

This does not mean every parent request must be funded exactly as proposed. It does mean that “no funding” should not be the end of the analysis. The school should be able to explain what it is doing to identify needs, plan support, use available resources and seek additional help where appropriate.

What is the notional SEN budget?

Mainstream schools receive an overall budget within which a notional SEN amount is identified. It is not a separate pot ring-fenced to individual pupils. Department for Education guidance explains that it is intended to help schools meet the additional costs of SEN Support and contribute towards higher-cost provision.

Current 2026–27 guidance uses a £6,000 additional-support cost threshold in the mainstream funding framework, with high-needs top-up funding above the relevant threshold where applicable. This does not mean every pupil on SEN Support is personally allocated £6,000.

Questions to ask the SENCO

• What needs has the school identified?
• What provision does the school believe is required?
• What is currently being delivered, by whom and how often?
• What has been tried and what impact did it have?
• Which part of the proposed support is said to be unaffordable?
• Has the school considered local-authority targeted or top-up funding routes where relevant?
• Does the school believe an EHC needs assessment may be necessary?

If support remains inadequate

Ask for the school’s response in writing and request a review of SEN Support. If the child may need more support than is reasonably available through ordinary SEN Support, a parent can request an EHC needs assessment directly from the local authority; the school does not have to make the request on your behalf.

What to collect

• SEN Support plans and review notes.
• Provision maps or timetables showing what is actually delivered.
• Progress and attainment information.
• Attendance or behaviour information where relevant.
• Professional recommendations.
• Written messages in which funding is given as the reason support cannot be provided.

Keep funding and entitlement separate

For a child with an EHC plan, the local authority has a statutory duty to secure the special educational provision specified in Section F. For a child on SEN Support, the framework is different, but the school still has duties to identify and support SEN and to use its best endeavours.