Categories:
Primary and Secondary School Headteachers

Reminder - Banding matrix request for primary and secondary schools

Oxfordshire SEND EHCP Banding Matrix – School Participation Phase

Over the past year, we have been working closely with schools to develop the Oxfordshire SEND EHCP Banding Matrix, a framework designed to ensure a fair, transparent, and consistent approach to identifying and supporting the needs of children and young people with SEND. Engagement and feedback from school colleagues have been invaluable in shaping this work.

We are asking all mainstream primary and secondary schools to participate in this phase.

What We Are Asking Schools to Do

Primary Schools

We are asking all primary schools to sample at least 10% of EHCPs (minimum two) and complete the Banding Matrix for each.

Secondary Schools

We are asking each secondary school to complete the matrix for:

  • A minimum of 10% of the total number of EHCPs in your school, or
  • 4 pupils with EHCPs (whichever number is higher)

Within this group:

  • 50% (minimum of 2 pupils) should be pupils who receive up to 25 hours of support per week
  • 50% (minimum of 2 pupils) should be pupils who receive more than 25 hours of support per week (i.e. pupils for whom a costed provision map was submitted as part of the secondary bonus top up funding exercise in the Autumn Term)

What Happens After This Phase?

  • All submitted data will be quality assured and moderated.
  • The combined results will be analysed to build a county-wide profile of need.
  • This information will be used to test and refine a fair and transparent banded funding model for mainstream schools.
  • Financial modelling will take place in Spring/Summer 2026, with further consultation and governance checks before final decisions.
  • The aim is to confirm new funding rates and prepare for transition in 2026–27, with the new system going live in April 2027 (subject to governance).

Further Information and Support

The request, together with the User Guide and details of available support for schools, has been distributed to headteachers of both primary and secondary schools.

Should your school not have received this information, or if you have any questions, please contact:
ehcpmatrix@oxfordshire.gov.uk