Ministers have been urged to clarify how special schools will be funded under their white paper reforms. The document pledged a 鈥渇undamental reset鈥 for special schools, including new funding bandings for provision, a curriculum review and a plan for the institutions to provide outreach and short-term placements for mainstream pupils. But few details 鈥 beyond a 拢800 million fund to help towards outreach 鈥 have been given on how the changing role of special schools will be paid-for. Government wants education, health and care plans to be reserved for pupils with the 鈥渕ost complex needs鈥 from 2035. Under the proposed system, a child will be placed on a 鈥渟pecialist provision package鈥, which will secure the right provision before an EHCP is issued. Funding for the packages will be set by national banding rates. ‘Deeply concerned’ Pauline Aitchison, deputy director at School North East, which represents the region鈥檚 schools, said there were 鈥渉undreds of different conditions鈥 that would fit into proposed packages, with 鈥渘othing鈥 mentioned on how they will be funded. Warren Carratt, chief executive of Nexus Multi-Academy Trust said he was 鈥渄eeply concerned鈥 by the proposed banding rates, which he said were 鈥渟o far removed from the needs of children and the schools supporting them鈥. Warren Carratt 鈥淲hen your funding agency and regulator is also defining what they want your unit costs to be 鈥 regardless of what they are 鈥 that can lead to a very conflicted space,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t would be disastrous if that leads to further underfunding of provision鈥. Others have been more welcoming of the plans. Marijke Miles, headteacher at Baycroft School in Hampshire, said: 鈥淪chools have been looking for a long time for a more consistent approach across the education landscape and for a less regional variation and postcode lottery.鈥 Mixed reactions Carratt questioned the 鈥渓ogic鈥 of introducing short-term placements in special schools. Simon Knight 鈥淪urely if a child is assessed as needing a special school place, it鈥檚 not something that鈥檚 needed for a fixed period.鈥 However, Simon Knight, joint head at Frank Wise school in Oxfordshire, said placements have 鈥渢he potential to improve鈥 how the system supports pupils needing additional help. Heads also have mixed views on the planned curriculum review for special schools. While Adam Dabin, CEO of Horizons Education Trust said the review has 鈥済ot potential to be quite a powerful piece of work鈥, Carratt said 鈥渄rifting towards prescription will only be harmful for the sector鈥. Adam Dabin The review proposed that councils will no longer be forced to name a school on a child鈥檚 education, health and care plan if it is full, something leaders have welcomed. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always been a challenge where special schools want to be part of the solution, and we want to take as many pupils as we possibly can鈥t鈥檚 easy to say you can fit an extra pupil here and there, but that doesn鈥檛 work on the ground,鈥 said Dabin. Knight added this would need to be 鈥渁ccompanied by sufficient capacity within the system to enable all children who require a special school place to be able to access one safety and effectively鈥.