A Guide for SENDCOs & Business Managers: How To Secure Funding for Alternative Provision In Wokingham, Reading, Bracknell, RBWM & West Berks

Securing appropriate funding for Alternative Provision (AP) placements is a complex but essential task for school leaders. As a SENDCO, ensuring every student's needs are met is your priority. As a business manager, you must balance those needs with the school's financial stability. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the funding mechanisms, including the High Needs Block, and the specific procedures you need to follow for four key local authorities local to our uReach Alternative Provision centre in Sindlesham, Wokingham.

Understanding the Funding Available

The financial support for AP placements is not a single, one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, funding can be drawn from a range of sources, including the High Needs Block (HNB), a central government grant that local authorities receive to fund provision for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

• The High Needs Block (HNB): Think of the HNB as the "pot of money" provided to your local authority via the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). This is the source from which all high-level SEND support is funded. Your role is to demonstrate a student's need for provision so that your school can access a portion of this block on their behalf.

  
  

• EHCP Funding: For students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), the funding for the relevant provisions and support is directly allocated from the HNB and is a non-negotiable part of the statutory plan. As AP is intended to be a temporary measure, the EHCP typically does not name a specific AP provider in Section I. Instead, the plan details the type of support and provision required to meet the student's needs. The local authority is then legally obligated to ensure this provision is secured and funded, which often takes the form of a temporary placement in an AP. Your role is to ensure the appropriate support is named in Section I of the EHCP and that the financial provision aligns with the school's cost base.

  
  

• Top-Up Funding: This is a crucial tool for students who require support beyond what can be provided by the school's core budget, but who may not have a full EHCP. Top-up funding is a supplementary payment from the local authority to cover the additional costs of a student's placement. This funding is typically approved by an AP panel or the local authority's SEND team based on robust evidence from the school.

  
  

• Academies Central Funding Pots: If you are part of a multi-academy trust (MAT), your school's AP funding may be managed centrally by the trust. A central pot, allocated from each school's budget (including its High Needs Block allocation), can be used to commission AP placements across the trust. This model provides greater flexibility and can streamline the procurement process.

Navigating Local Authority Procedures with Direct Links

Once you have identified that Alternative Provision may be the right support for a young person, you are likely asking yourself: how do I get funding for alternative provision in Wokingham... in Reading... in Bracknell... in Windsor & Maidenhead... or in West Berks?

To successfully secure funding, you must follow the specific referral pathways established by your local authority. This process requires meticulous documentation and clear communication with the relevant teams.

*Transport - we have included information on travel funding for each local authority but here at uReach we can remove this worry and financial pressure! Travel is included free of charge for all placements in Wokingham, Reading, Bracknell & RBWM and is offered on a case by case basis for all other local authorities. Generally, if the journey time is less than 25 minutes we will be able to offer travel outside of these boroughs.

Wokingham Borough Council

• Funding Process: The primary route is through a formal referral to the council's SEND Team. You'll need to prepare a comprehensive evidence pack detailing the student's needs, interventions already attempted in-house, and the specific reasons why the current school setting is no longer suitable. Your starting point for all SEND-related information should be the council's SEND Local Offer.
  

• Links: Wokingham Borough Council SEND Local Offer
  

• *Transport: When a student with an EHCP is placed in an AP, Wokingham provides home-to-school transport to the nearest suitable school. Be aware that the council may decline to fund transport if a placement is made at an AP other than the closest one that could meet the student's needs. The council may offer alternatives such as a Personal Travel Budget (PTB) or a public transport pass.

Bracknell Forest Council

• Funding Process: Bracknell Forest Council manages its funding from the High Needs Block (HNB) to support students with SEND. The council has been working to address funding pressures through its Safety Valve Programme. Your team can access referral information and guidance via the council's dedicated SEND pages.
  

• Links: Bracknell Forest Council High Needs Funding Policy
  

• *Transport: For students with an EHCP, you must apply to the Education Transport team. Their direct line is 01344 352002. They may provide transport or, alternatively, a Personal Transport Budget (PTB), which gives the family more control.

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM)

• Funding Process: RBWM operates a Pupils Educationally at Risk Panel to address complex cases. This panel is the key to securing joint funding with the council for short-term AP interventions designed to prevent permanent exclusion. The council has also been expanding its SEND provision, funded by the High Needs Provision Capital Allocation. The process is managed by Achieving for Children (AfC).
  

• Links: RBWM Alternative Provision Policy
  

• *Transport: The transport service is delivered by Achieving for Children (AfC). As a SENDCO or business manager, you must submit a formal application for transport for students with an EHCP. The decision will be based on the student's needs and the distance to the provision.

Reading Borough Council

• Funding Process: Reading’s children's services are managed by Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC). The professional referral for AP funding is initiated through the Children's Single Point of Access (CSPoA). You must use a multi-agency notification form to submit your request with supporting evidence.
  

• Links: BFfC Multi-agency Notification Form and the BFfC SEND Local Offer.
  

• *Transport: BFfC has a specific process for transport applications. You must use the official SEND home-to-school transport application form and email it to school.transport@brighterfuturesforchildren.org. Their Independent Travel Training programme is also an excellent resource to help students with additional needs use public transport.

West Berkshire Council

• Funding Process: West Berkshire’s children's services and funding decisions are managed directly by West Berkshire Council’s Children and Family Services (CAFS). For a school to initiate a referral or request non-statutory support for a student with complex needs, the request is typically directed through the Contact, Advice and Assessment Service (CAAS). The core policy dictates that schools must fund the first £6,000 of high-cost SEND provision (including AP) from their delegated budget. Where costs exceed this, the school applies for Top-Up Funding (Element 3), which is determined by the SEN Panel, usually for students with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
  

• Links: Early Intervention Funding and Support Services - Referral Form
  

• *Transport: For transport assistance for students with an EHCP or those attending a special school/resource unit, the Home to School Transport Team manages applications. Schools or parents must use the dedicated online application form for EHCP pupils to Apply for Free Transport to a Special School, Resource Unit or iCollege all with an EHCP. The decision is based on the student's needs and legal eligibility criteria.

  • Direct Contact: The Home to School Transport Team can be reached directly via 01635 519777 or by email at pupiltransport@westberks.gov.uk.

Crafting a Strong Referral: Key Elements of a Successful Application

A strong funding application does more than just fill in the blanks on a form; it tells a compelling, evidence-based story that clearly justifies the need for AP. The more detailed and persuasive your application, the higher the chance of securing a positive outcome. Everyone, from the council to the family, is looking for a collaborative effort rather than a situation where a family feels like something is being "done to" them.

1. Data-Driven Evidence: All applications must be supported by data. Include attendance records, behaviour logs, incident reports, and academic data. This demonstrates a pattern of need and shows that the school has been proactive in documenting the challenges.

2. Documented Interventions: Show that your school has exhausted all in-house strategies. Provide a detailed log of every intervention you have tried, from modified timetables to one-on-one support, and document why each one was unsuccessful. This proves that AP is a necessary last resort, not a first choice.

3. Parental Consent and Collaboration: Your application must clearly state that the parents support and have provided their consent to apply for AP. This is a crucial step that demonstrates a collaborative approach and ensures the family is an active participant in the process.

4. The Student’s Narrative: While data is crucial, it's the student's personal story that truly matters. Describe their emotional and social well-being, their relationship with peers and staff, and the impact of their current situation on their self-esteem and future. If the student is old enough to have one, a pupil's voice statement or a case study can be incredibly powerful.

5. A Clear Purpose for the Placement: A successful application articulates a clear vision for the student's time in AP. It should explain how the AP's specific provision will meet the student's needs and support their return to a mainstream setting.

You can include the following paragraph directly in your application to articulate this purpose and demonstrate that you are a suitable match for the student's needs:

"We believe this alternative provision is a vital stepping stone for [Student's Name], not a permanent destination. We have secured the full support and consent of the parents to apply for this placement. Our goal is to equip them with the essential skills and confidence needed to successfully reintegrate and thrive within a mainstream educational environment. This referral is made after exhausting all other in-school strategies to settle [Student's Name], and we deem this placement crucial due to the significant risk of exclusion or non-achievement in their current mainstream setting."

By following these guidelines and providing a clear rationale for the placement, you can significantly increase the likelihood of securing the funding your student needs to succeed.