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EHCP Personal Budgets: Using Funding for Tutoring & Therapy
Can EHCP personal budgets fund SEND tutoring and therapy? Learn how they work, what’s covered, and how to request one.
Many families with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) have never heard of personal budgets. Yet this funding option has existed since the Children and Families Act 2014. EHCP personal budgets give families more control over how their child gets agreed support, such as tutoring and therapy.
Families often ask one question above all: can a personal budget fund SEND tutoring?
A SEND personal budget is a set amount of funding linked to the support listed in Section F of an EHC plan. It isn’t always money paid straight to families. Instead, it is often a notional sum, meaning a figure on paper rather than cash in hand.
That figure gives families a say in how their child’s support is arranged and shaped. In practice, it offers more choice and control over services like tutoring or therapy.
Section 49 of the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice both define personal budgets. They give families a way to work more closely with local authorities and service providers. The shared aim is to meet the child’s specific needs.
A personal budget is the umbrella term for funding set aside to support a child or young person with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). However, families can receive and manage this budget in different ways. There are four main options:
These options offer flexibility. Families can shape how their personal budget works to best suit their child or young person’s needs.
A parent or young person can request a personal budget once the local authority agrees to issue an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. They can ask while the plan is being prepared. They can also ask during a statutory review of an existing EHC plan.
That said, this is a right to request, not an automatic entitlement. What the budget includes depends on the outcomes and provision set out in the EHC plan. It also depends on which funding streams are available.
A personal budget can draw on funding from education, health and social care. It depends on what the EHC plan specifies and agrees. For example, it might fund agreed tuition to support learning. It could also cover mentoring or coaching, therapies like speech and language therapy, or personal help with daily routines.
However, the plan must set out these provisions clearly. They need to appear in Section F (Special Educational Provision) or Section J (Details of the Personal Budget). Parents also cannot simply pick any provider they like. The local authority must agree all arrangements, so they fit within the plan.
For families working through the EHCP process, personal budgets can be a valuable way to secure tailored support. In some cases, families can use educational direct payments in the plan to fund tuition. They may also fund other special educational provision named in the EHCP. Even so, the local authority (LA) must agree first.
The budget must also be large enough to cover the provision. If the EHCP says tuition is necessary, a personal budget can help pay for a qualified SEND tutor. That tutor should work towards the plan’s goals. In short, the child gets meaningful, targeted support.
When you look into SEND tutoring funding, choosing the right tutor or provider is vital. The right choice helps your child reach their goals. Look for people or organisations with proven SEND expertise. They should also have strong safeguarding in place, so you have peace of mind.
A good provider offers clear reports and evidence of progress. That keeps things open and accountable. They should also work towards the specific outcomes in the EHCP.
Good providers liaise with other professionals in your child’s support team, too. This keeps support joined up. Above all, choose someone who offers long-term consistency and measurable results. That way, your child can make steady, meaningful progress in their education.
A personal budget can sometimes include health or social care elements alongside education. That means therapy might form part of it. This could include Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) or other therapies. Whether it’s included depends on several factors.
First, the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) must clearly categorise, commission and describe the therapy. Second, the relevant commissioning body must agree before families can pay for therapy through direct payments.
Not every therapy service or professional qualifies for direct payments automatically. Approval depends on meeting the right criteria. The service must also match the child’s needs as set out in the EHCP.
No. Having an EHCP does not automatically entitle you to a direct payment. You have the right to request one, but approval isn’t guaranteed.
If the local authority refuses a direct payment for special educational provision, it must explain why in writing. It must also offer a way to review the decision. This gives families a clear, open route to raise any concerns.
A direct payment gives families more control over the support in an EHC plan. You can choose tailored services that closely match your child’s needs. However, more freedom also means more admin.
Families must find suitable providers and arrange and manage sessions. They also need to keep accurate records, handle invoices and track spending. On top of that, they must follow the local authority’s conditions.
For some families, this can feel overwhelming. A notional budget managed by the local authority may suit them better. So might a third-party arrangement. Both options offer some flexibility with less admin, so families get support without the extra workload.
In January 2026, just 19,200 EHC plans included a personal budget. That’s about 2.7% of all plans. Of these, only 20.9% included direct payments for education. Most covered social care only.
These figures show that personal budgets remain fairly rare, even though they are a legitimate way to tailor support. Awareness is likely a big factor. Many families may not realise they can request one, so this route to greater control often goes unused.
Bright Heart understands the value of structured support for children with SEND. This matters most when tuition forms part of a personal budget or direct payment package. We work closely with families and commissioners. Together, we provide tailored tuition that supports the child’s agreed outcomes.
Our approach puts clear progress tracking and evidence-based reporting first. That way, tuition supports academic growth. It also stays in step with the wider goals in the plan.
Personal budgets give families more say in securing the agreed support for their child. Even so, they need Local Authority (LA) agreement and come with certain conditions.
Families can often use a personal budget to fund tutoring and some therapies. However, they need to raise it themselves while their child’s EHCP is being prepared or reviewed.
For more guidance on your rights and the EHCP review process, IPSEA and the SEND Code of Practice are helpful resources. If you’d like to explore how a personal budget could support your child’s tutoring needs, please contact our team. We’re here to help you make tailored tuition part of your child’s educational plan.
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