Child Support: Education
The following information has been re-produced from the NDCS,( National Deaf Children's Society,) web site.
When deciding which school your child should go to, your LEA has to follow regulations that depend on the type of school you want and whether your child has a statement of special educational needs (a document setting out a child's educational needs and how they should be met).
LEA-maintained schools
Most schools in England are funded by a local education authority (that is, they are LEA maintained). The school's governing body controls how their budget is spent. The governing body is made up of governors, who can be parents, teachers and other interested people who work with the head teacher to manage the school. The law states that all LEA-maintained schools should support children with special educational needs, including deaf children.
Units and resource facilities
A unit or resource facility is part of an LEA-maintained school. This can mean that one or several classrooms have been adapted and are used especially for teaching deaf children. Units and resource facilities have different approaches depending on the way in which deaf children are involved with hearing children. In some schools, deaf children will attend mainstream classes with support from a communication support worker, teaching assistant or learning support assistant. In other schools, deaf children are taught in the unit or resource facility for some or all lessons.
Some units and resource facilities may be funded by the LEA, which then controls the units or resource facility's budget. Other units and resource facilities will receive funding from another source. This means that the school's governing body is responsible for staffing and equipment, but not controlling the budget. Once funds are given to a school, the governing body does not have to use the funds for the purpose the funds were provided for.
LEA-maintained special schools
The LEA funds these schools. They are set up to meet the needs of children with special educational needs or disabilities. They usually only cover one area, such as deafness, blindness, moderate learning difficulties or autism. The LEA gives responsibility for managing the budget to the school governors, who decide what the funds are used for. Governors have increasing responsibility for managing the schools.
Community schools
With community schools, the LEA employs the school's staff, owns the school's land and buildings, and is the admissions authority (that is, they decide on the policy to follow when offering places to pupils, and how many places to offer.
Foundation schools
The governing body is both the employer and the admissions authority in a foundation school. The school's land and buildings are either owned by the governing body or a charity.
Voluntary-aided schools
Voluntary-aided schools are usually run by church organisations. The LEA provides the largest amount of funding to the school. The governing body is the employer and the admissions authority. The school's land and buildings are normally owned by a registered charity. The governing body will contribute towards the costs of running the school.
Voluntary-controlled schools
Voluntary-controlled schools are set up by voluntary organisations. The LEA is the employer and the admissions authority. The school's land and buildings will normally be owned by a registered charity (usually a church).
Non-maintained schools
These schools are not funded by the LEA or the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). They are usually registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. Schools for deaf children which are not funded by the LEA are usually non-maintained and many provide residential facilities. Regulations control the conditions under which they offer educational and residential services.
Most pupils who go to non-maintained schools have a statement of special educational needs and their LEA funds their places. Non-maintained schools are not run for profit, so all the money they receive is spent on the school.
Independent schools
Independent schools are not funded by the LEA or DfES. They may be registered as charities. Parents normally pay fees to the school every term. If the LEA agrees that a place at an independent school is appropriate, and they name the school in a child's statement, the LEA will have to pay the fees. They will also have to make sure that any support needed (as set out in part 3 of the statement of special educational needs) is provided.
Independent schools must be approved by the Secretary of State for Education to educate children with special educational needs. It is always useful for parents to check that the school is approved by the Secretary of State for Education. If the school does not have approval, you can write to the Secretary of State for Education asking for approval.
For more information please contact DEAF Lincs family support worker.