Special Provision Capital Fund Plan

The government is committed to investing in new places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or who require alternative provision (AP). The Education Act 1996 sets out the statutory duty on local authorities to secure sufficient school places, which they must do with regard to securing special educational provision for pupils with SEND. The Children and Families Act 2014 also places important responsibilities on local authorities (LAs) for supporting children and young people with SEND, including keeping the sufficiency of educational provision for them under review. That is why the government has announced it is committing £280 million in financial year 2021-22, to support local authorities to deliver new places and improve existing provision for children and young people with SEND, particularly those with more complex needs, and for those pupils that require alternative provision, which we collectively refer to as ‘high needs’ provision.

This capital is not ring-fenced and local authorities can use it as they see fit to improve special provision for children and young people with education, health and care plans. This funding can be invested in mainstream schools and academies, special units, special schools, early years settings and further education colleges, or to make other provision for children and young people aged from 0 to 25. Local authorities can invest their share of the special provision capital fund in: