Luke Sibieta, a research fellow of the IFS says the current notional budget, which hasn't been altered for inflation and the separation of schools block and high needs block funding are problematic features of the system.
Phil Haslett of the f40 group says schools forums in local areas need more flexibility to be able to move money between the schools block and high needs block.
Rob Williams, a senior policy advisor for the NAHT, tells the committee that basic core budgets are insufficient for schools. He also says school leaders are concerned about council deficits on SEND spending and this resulting in any additional funding being consumed by existing debt.
Mr Williams added that legislation and the SEND code of practice is based on the premise that we have a needs led system for SEND but he says NAHT members are working in a resource limited system "so they have to make decisions about what they can afford rather than what they to want to provide".
The committee has asked how a difference in cost between independent & state school costs in providing for pupils with SEND can be justified. Claire Dorer chief executive of the National Association of Independent Schools says the issue is that its not comparing like with like in terms of provision.
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