Condition of Funding Exemptions

Hmmm, you're right, it's not super clear...

16 to 19 funding: maths and English condition of funding - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Students with SEND exemption

Where a student with SEND does not hold a GCSE grade 9 to 4, A* to C or equivalent qualification in maths and/or English, an institution may decide that it is not appropriate for them to study for a GCSE or a stepping stone qualification. In this case, in addition to the student’s EHC plan, the institution must hold an evidenced assessment that the student is not able to study these subjects.

All exemptions must be considered on a case by case basis. There is no blanket exemption for whole institutions.

Assessments for exemptions must be authorised by an appropriate professional in the institution, such as the head of SEND or student support. The assessment should be structured and documented. We do not expect to give further detailed advice on the format or on who should conduct the assessment. This is for institutions to decide. Exemptions will be monitored from the data institutions submit rather than on an individual basis.

HOWEVER, what I will say is these are *exactly* the kind of learners that your 5% tolerance is for, where there's no EHCP but doing a fulltime voc *and* English and Maths will be too much for the learner. So, in effect, what we're doing is intentionally failing CoF for these learners because it's in their best interests, as opposed to the learners failing CoF because they can't be bothered to turn up...

HI Adam,

As you know the guidance states this > EHC plan AND institution assessment that confirms they are not able to study either GCSE or stepping stone qualifications.

During our most recent ESFA audit they did ask to see evidence of both, so based on this I would say that without the ECHP you would not be about to record it as exempt.

Not sure if this helps, but that is my experience.

Yes, we wouldn't class them as exempt, we'd just absorb them into our 5% tolerance of students failing CoF. We have a strict internal process for any student failing CoF. There a whole host of reasons that might happen, but mental health is a common one.