Where 1:1 funding actually comes from
Schools don't fund 1:1 TAs out of general budget; the money is layered:
- Schools' notional SEN budget (the first £6,000 per SEN pupil) pays for SEN Support provision generally, but rarely covers a dedicated 1:1.
- Local Authority top-up funding(sometimes called “high needs” or “banded” funding) pays for support beyond the first £6,000. This usually comes via an EHCP specifying provision in Section F.
- School-funded informal arrangements: some schools fund partial 1:1 from their own SEN budget for children without an EHCP, often shared with another child or covering specific lessons. This is at the school's discretion and is rarely dedicated.
Without an EHCP, the school is making a judgement call about whether their own SEN budget can stretch. With an EHCP that specifies 1:1 provision in Section F, the council is legally bound to fund it.
What “1:1” actually means in practice
The term is used loosely. In practice it can mean:
- Dedicated 1:1: a named TA who supports your child for specified hours per week, doing only your child's support during those hours. This is what Section F typically specifies when it's done well.
- Shared 1:1: a TA who supports two or three children with similar needs simultaneously. Common in mainstream classrooms; cheaper for the school; often what's actually delivered when Section F isn't specific enough.
- Floating TA support: a TA in the classroom who supports your child as needed but isn't assigned to them. Not 1:1 in any meaningful sense, although schools sometimes describe it that way to parents.
The difference is in the wording of Section F. “1:1 TA support” can be delivered as any of the above. “15 hours per week of 1:1 TA support, delivered by a named TA, with that TA supporting only [child's name] during those hours” can't.
How to get 1:1 specified
- If your child doesn't have an EHCP and needs 1:1 support, request an EHC needs assessment. See the sibling answer on how to apply.
- If your child has an EHCP without specific 1:1 provision, the route is an amendment at the annual review (or an early review). Bring evidence the current provision isn't enough.
- If your child's EHCP says “1:1 support as required” or similar vague wording, that's a Section F drafting problem. The sibling answer on Section F covers the specific-and-quantified standard that makes the provision enforceable.
Where the law comes from
Related
This page is general information, not clinical or legal advice.