Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans his department has to review the (a) Education and Skills Funding Agency and (b) Teachers' Pay grant in relation to increased staff ratios required for schools (i) operating a High Need C&I centre and (ii) with high numbers of pupils with an education and health care plan.

On behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, the Education and Skills Funding Agency has responsibility to administer funding to deliver education and skills, from early years through to adulthood.

In 2018, the teachers’ pay grant was introduced to support schools to implement the 2018 teacher pay award. In 2019, the teachers’ pay grant was increased to support schools to implement the 2019 teacher pay award. It is allocated to schools on a per pupil basis, taking into account their phase and geographical area. In 2020-21, the teachers’ pay grant will be worth over £500 million to schools and local authorities.

In respect of pupils with education, health and care plans, local authorities are responsible for covering the costs of additional provision above the first £6,000. Local authorities retain the flexibility to provide extra funding to schools, based on the schools’ individual needs and where there is a strong local rationale for doing so.