Funding Options for Children’s Tutoring, Emotional Support and Counselling
When your child is struggling emotionally or academically, finding the right support is often your first priority. Working out how to pay for that support can sometimes feel like the next challenge.
Around 75% of the support we provide is currently funded directly by families, allowing children and young people to begin receiving help without waiting for funding decisions or referrals. However, depending on your child’s individual circumstances, there may be other funding options available. Some families access support through their child’s school, Local Authority, an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), an EOTAS package or other commissioned services.
Every family’s circumstances are different, so we’ve outlined the most common funding routes below to help you understand what may be available. While we cannot guarantee funding, we’re always happy to explain the different options, answer your questions and help you explore the routes that may be appropriate for your family. If you’re unsure where to start, we’d be happy to have an informal conversation.
Funding Streams
Send Funding
Who is this for?
Families who would like to begin support quickly and have complete flexibility over the type, frequency and duration of sessions.
How does it work?
Most families choose to self-fund because it allows support to begin quickly and provides complete flexibility over the type and frequency of sessions.
Self-funding means support can often begin more quickly without waiting for referrals or funding decisions. It also gives you the flexibility to choose the services that best meet your child’s needs and adapt support as those needs change over time.
Families with an EHCP
Who is this for?
Children and young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
How does it work?
Depending on your child’s EHCP and your Local Authority’s arrangements, some families may be able to access a Personal Budget or Direct Payments to arrange agreed educational provision.
In some circumstances, Emotionally Healthy Minds may be named in Section F within an EHCP or commissioned to deliver provision that supports the outcomes identified in your child’s plan. This may include tutoring, emotion coaching, counselling or other agreed educational and emotional wellbeing support where this has been approved by the Local Authority.
If your child has an EHCP, we are happy to discuss whether our services may be appropriate as part of their agreed provision.
Depending on your child’s identified outcomes, support may focus on emotional wellbeing, engagement with learning, confidence, emotional regulation or overcoming barriers to education.
Children Receiving EOTAS or Alternative Provision
Who is this for?
Children who are unable to attend school and are receiving Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS), Alternative Provision or another personalised education package.
How does it work?
Where funding has been agreed, support may be commissioned directly by your Local Authority, funded through a virtual wallet or arranged through your child’s school.
We regularly work alongside Local Authorities to deliver tutoring, emotion coaching and counselling that helps children rebuild confidence, overcome barriers to learning and, where appropriate, prepare for a successful return to education.
We have extensive experience supporting children experiencing emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), anxiety and other needs that make attending school difficult.
School-Funded Support
Who is this for?
Children whose school recognises they would benefit from additional emotional or educational support.
How does it work?
Some schools commission Emotionally Healthy Minds directly using SEND funding, Pupil Premium or other school budgets.
This may include tutoring, emotion coaching or counselling where the school believes additional support will help improve attendance, reduce barriers to learning and support positive educational outcomes.
If you think your child would benefit from support, it may be worth speaking with your school’s SENCO, pastoral lead or headteacher to discuss the options available.
Charitable Grants and Community Funding
Who is this for?
Families who may be eligible for support from charities, trusts or community organisations.
How does it work?
Some charities and grant-making organisations provide financial support for children with additional needs or families experiencing financial hardship.
Although funding opportunities vary, we are happy to provide quotations, service information and supporting evidence to strengthen applications where appropriate.
Social Care and Multi-Agency Funding
Who is this for?
Children and young people receiving support from Children’s Social Care, Early Help, Virtual Schools, Family Support services or other multi-agency teams.
How does it work?
In some circumstances, Emotionally Healthy Minds may be commissioned as part of a wider package of support around a child or family. Funding may come from Children’s Social Care, Virtual Schools (including through Pupil Premium Plus where appropriate), Early Help or other agencies working together to meet a child’s educational and emotional wellbeing needs.
Support may include tutoring, emotion coaching, counselling, targeted interventions, workshops, parent support or other services that complement educational, safeguarding or therapeutic plans.
Funding arrangements vary depending on the child’s individual circumstances and the agencies involved. We regularly work alongside schools, social workers, Virtual Schools, Local Authorities and other professionals to provide coordinated support that helps children overcome barriers to learning, improve emotional wellbeing and achieve positive outcomes.
What Can Funding Be used For?
Depending on the funding route, support may include:
- Emotionally informed tutoring
- Emotion coaching
- Child counselling
- SEMH support
- Support for school attendance and EBSA
- SEND support
- Confidence and self-esteem programmes
- Transition support
- EOTAS and Alternative Provision
Who we support
We support children and young people who:
- feel anxious about school
- are struggling emotionally
- have lost confidence in learning
- have SEND needs such as autism, ADHD, PDA or dyslexia
- are emotionally overwhelmed
- feel misunderstood or unsupported
- are school avoidant
- need a more nurturing and holistic approach to education
Not Sure Which Funding Option Is Right for Your Family?
Whether you’re looking to fund tutoring, coaching or counselling yourself, exploring support through your child’s school or Local Authority, or trying to understand how an EHCP, Direct Payments or EOTAS funding works, we’re happy to help.
Every family’s journey is different, and funding arrangements can sometimes feel confusing. If you’re unsure where to begin, we’re happy to talk through the options, explain the different funding routes and provide any information you need for discussions with your child’s school, Local Authority or other professionals.
While we cannot guarantee funding, we will always do our best to help you understand the options available and find the most appropriate route to support your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get funding for tutoring, coaching or counselling?
Most families choose to fund support themselves. However, depending on your child’s individual circumstances, funding may sometimes be available through your child’s school, Local Authority, an EHCP Personal Budget, Direct Payments or an EOTAS package. We are happy to discuss the options that may be relevant to your family.
Can I use my child's EHCP funding?
Some children with an EHCP may be able to access a Personal Budget or Direct Payments where these have been agreed by their Local Authority. Funding arrangements vary, so we recommend speaking with your school or Local Authority about your child’s individual circumstances.
What is a Personal Budget?
A Personal Budget is funding that may be made available as part of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). It allows some families greater choice over how parts of their child’s agreed provision are delivered. Not every child with an EHCP will have a Personal Budget, and availability depends on Local Authority policies.
Can I use Direct Payments for tutoring or coaching?
Possibly. Direct Payments are one way of receiving part of your child’s EHCP Personal Budget, allowing you to arrange certain agreed services yourself rather than having them commissioned directly by your Local Authority.
If your Local Authority agrees that educational provision can be delivered through Direct Payments, you may be able to choose an appropriate provider, such as Emotionally Healthy Minds, to deliver agreed tutoring, emotion coaching, counselling or other educational support.
Not every child with an EHCP will be eligible for Direct Payments, and arrangements vary between Local Authorities. If you’re unsure whether this option is available to your family, we recommend speaking with your EHCP caseworker or Local Authority. We’re also happy to discuss how our services may fit within your child’s agreed provision.
Can my child's school pay for support?
Sometimes. Schools may choose to commission tutoring, coaching or counselling where they believe it is appropriate to meet a pupil’s needs. Funding may come from SEND budgets, Pupil Premium or other school funding, although these decisions always remain with the school.
Can my Local Authority fund Emotionally Healthy Minds?
Yes. We can work alongside Local Authorities to provide tutoring, emotion coaching and counselling for children receiving EOTAS, Alternative Provision and other commissioned packages of support. Funding arrangements vary according to each child’s individual circumstances.
What if my child doesn't have an EHCP?
Many of the children we support do not have an EHCP. Most families self-fund their child’s sessions, although in some circumstances schools or Local Authorities may commission support where this is appropriate.
Can I pay privately while waiting for Local Authority decisions?
Yes. Some families choose to begin support privately while waiting for Local Authority assessments or funding decisions. This means their child can begin receiving support without unnecessary delays.
Can Emotionally Healthy Minds provide quotations for funding applications?
Yes. We are happy to provide quotations, service information and supporting documentation where these are needed for funding applications or discussions with schools or Local Authorities.
