SEND Top-up Funding
Formulate is used as an Education Banding Tool to allocate top-up funding accurately for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
The focus always remained on creating a good quality, accurate tool, which could work across different ages, settings and types of need. Implementing this across a large county like Northamptonshire has been a significant achievement.
Project Manager - Education, Health and Care Team
Northamptonshire County Council
Key benefits
- Determine the level of funding using a configurable banding approach.
- Understand the needs of each student to ensure they can reach their potential.
- Make evidence-based and defensible top-up funding decisions.
- Compare your configuration decisions with other Local Authorities.
- Monitor changes in need and spend over time.
- Compatible with the leading case management IT systems.
Watch the video
To watch the demo of our Education Banding Tool, please complete the form below and we'll send you a link.

Northamptonshire are now in a position where High Needs Funding is being allocated to all the Special Schools in the county using this system.
Project Manager - Education, Health and Care Team
Northamptonshire County Council
Northamptonshire County Council introduces a fairer and more consistent approach to estimating SEND top-up funding
Northamptonshire County Council joined Imosphere as a key collaborator in the development of its Education Banding Tool, which is now being implemented by local authorities across the country.

Frequently asked questions
Showing 6 of 10- How would we access Formulate for SEND (Education Banding Tool)?
- Have schools/colleges and parents/carers been involved in developing Formulate for SEND (Education Banding Tool)?
- Where does Formulate for SEND (Education Banding Tool) fit in the EHC process?
- How long is an implementation of the Education Banding Tool likely to take?
- Can Formulate for SEND (Education Banding Tool) support us to monitor progress towards outcomes for children/young people?
- Are parents/carers or schools/colleges able to see the tool?