The Bexley Schools Forum met on Monday 15 June 2026 to discuss the outturn of the schools budget for the 2025/26 financial year, the proposed funding for the 2026/27 academic year, and an update on the local SEND Reform Plan. The meeting also covered the Bexley Schools Forum constitution and the draft schedule of meetings for the upcoming year.

Schools Budget 2025/26 Outturn

The Forum was presented with information regarding the final position of the Schools Budget for the 2025/26 financial year, as reflected in the Council's draft Statement of Accounts. This included details on the balances of delegated budgets for maintained schools, which showed a reduction in average balances. The report also highlighted an in-year deficit of £10.099m for centrally-managed budgets, primarily driven by variations in high needs expenditure. This adverse variance was partly offset by an underspend in the early years block. The overall Dedicated Schools Grant deficit carried forward was £22.495m.

Funding Following Excluded Pupils and Managed Moves

The report outlined Bexley's approach to funding adjustments following permanent exclusions or managed moves, in accordance with the School and Early Years Finance Regulations. Funding adjustments are calculated from the sixth school day after a permanent exclusion. The report noted that while adjustments are typically calculated based on the local authority's financial year, there is flexibility for local agreements to align with the academic year for academies. An academy had requested that this option be discussed by the Schools Forum.

2026/27 Scheme for Financing Schools

The Scheme for Financing Schools, which sets out the financial relationship between the Local Authority and maintained schools, was presented for decision. As there were no directed revisions from the Department for Education (DfE) this year, no changes were proposed to the existing scheme. Maintained school members were asked to agree to adopt the Scheme for Financing Schools.

Update on the Local SEND Reform Plan

An update was provided on the development of the Local SEND Reform Plan, a requirement from the DfE and NHS England following assessments of local readiness for SEND reforms. The report detailed the timeline of activities, including partnership workshops, consultations, and the drafting of a maturity assessment tool and the Reform Plan itself. The plan is structured around seven pillars, including co-production, effective system leadership, data utilisation, quality service delivery, effective partnerships, a skilled workforce, and the judicious use of resources. The report also highlighted the five principles of SEND reform: early intervention, local provision, fairness, effectiveness, and shared working. The cessation of the Safety Valve Programme was noted, with a transition to a new High Needs Stability Grant, contingent on the approval of the Local SEND Reform Plan. The financial implications of this transition were discussed, including the potential impact on Bexley's accumulated deficit.

The Safety Valve Intervention Progress report detailed the programme's achievements, including the rollout of new specialist base places, repatriation of learners from out-of-borough placements, and the delivery of various interventions such as Talk Boost, ELSA, and FRIENDS Resilience. The report also outlined future plans for continuing these interventions and integrating them into the Bexley's Best Start in Life programme.

Bexley Schools Forum Constitution

The Forum was asked to approve and adopt an updated constitution. The constitution, last amended in June 2022, had been reviewed to ensure continued compliance with national guidance and to reflect the current structure of the education sector in Bexley. Refinements included clarifications to sections on proportionality, election processes, and membership terms. The proposed updates aimed to ensure the Forum's continued effectiveness in governance and representation.

Draft Schedule of Meetings 2026/27

A draft schedule of meetings for the Bexley Schools Forum for the 2026/27 academic year was presented for noting. The proposed dates included meetings in October 2026, November 2026, January 2027, and June 2027.

Any Other Business

Under Any Other Business, appreciation was expressed for the work undertaken on SEND, particularly highlighting the leadership of Wendy Vincent. The Clerk was also advised to consider scheduling future meetings to avoid examination periods and leavers' days.

Date of Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting was noted as Monday 5 October 2026, subject to approval.