A SEND personal budget is money provided to help meet the needs of your child or young person with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). This money comes from your local council (local authority) and is used for things like education, health, or care, based on what’s in your child’s Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Plan.

A personal budget gives you more control over how that money is spent, so you can make sure your child gets the right support for their needs. 

Your child needs to have an EHC Plan for you to be able to apply for a personal budget. If your child has support in education, health, or care, the council will decide how much money is needed for each area. This will be based on your child’s needs. 

There are different ways to manage a personal budget.

• Notional budget - The support is arranged directly by the council or health services. This works for a young person or parents who do not wish to manage the budget themselves.
  
• Direct payment - A cash payment to the parents or young person to choose and buy and manage some support and services detailed in the EHC plan.
  
• Managed budget - A third-party arrangement where funds are paid to an individual or organisation to manage on the behalf of the parents or young person.
  
• Combination - A combination of funding allocations where young people or parents take direct payments for some services and resources and ask the council or a third party to manage other services on their behalf. 

If your child doesn’t already have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), you need to ask for an assessment. The council will look at your child’s needs and decide if they need a plan and a personal budget. 

The amount of money you get depends on your child’s needs. The council will agree on the amount based on their assessment.

You can use the money for things like:

• Extra help in school, such as a teaching assistant or therapy
  
• Personal care support
  
• Special equipment or technology
  
• Activities outside school to support your child’s development
  
• Health-related support or therapy 

You know your child’s needs best, so it’s important that the money is spent in the right way.

You can work with teachers, health professionals, and social workers to make sure it’s being used properly. 

You will need to keep records of how the money is being spent. This can be as simple as keeping receipts or notes on what services were provided.

A personal budget gives you more control over the support your child gets. It allows you to make choices based on what your child needs, whether that’s extra help in school, therapies, or special equipment. While it’s a big responsibility, it also means you can ensure your child gets the best support possible.

If you feel the money isn’t being spent in the right way or isn’t helping your child, you can ask for a review. This means talking to the council or professionals involved to make changes.

If you need help, don't hesitate to ask the local authority or professionals involved or for more information click here

Personal Budget Policy (0-25 SEND)

Personal Health Budgets