ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the present scene, itself highly variable, as it affects special educational needs (S.E.N) provision in mainstream and special schools. Many local education authorities (L.E.A.s) have built one or more elements for providing for non-statemented special needs into their local management of schools (L.M.S.) formula, although the overall amount of money available is highly variable. T. Lee has outlined the differing weightings used in calculating the S.E.N. element of each L.E.A.'s formula. A few L.E.A.s have already delegated the budget for statemented special needs to their mainstream schools. If L.M.S.S. is to prove useful as a funding device in the future, it needs to be compatible with funding methods in use for S.E.N. pupils in mainstream schools. Some formulae being suggested by L.E.A.s at present, however, offer entirely separate systems. One reason for this is the significantly increased staffing costs in special schools.
