The West Northamptonshire Schools Forum was scheduled to meet to discuss the Dedicated Schools Grant provisional outturn for 2024-25, the deficit management plan, and the administrative arrangements for allocating central government grants in 2025-26. They were also scheduled to elect a chair and vice-chair for the upcoming year. Maintained school members were expected to approve the carry forward of school balances above 10% of their budget.

Dedicated Schools Grant Outturn 2024-25

The forum was scheduled to discuss the provisional outturn for the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) ¹ for the 2024-25 financial year, including maintained school balances. The report noted that the council faced ongoing challenges due to increasing demand and cost pressures for statutory services.

Within SEND, demand-led pressures continue to show significant increases above average in the number of children and people requiring assessment and support, and the cost and complexity of these education packages.

The report stated that the provisional outturn overspend across all four DSG blocks was £18.2 million, which was attributed to demand and cost pressures in the high needs block. The high needs block was forecast to overspend by £20.1 million, with £6 million relating to a structural deficit and the remainder due to in-year pressures. These pressures included:

• Mainstream schools top ups
• Special schools
• SEN units and resource provision
• Independent placements
• Therapies, Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) packages and tutoring costs
• Post 16 demand pressures
• Alternative Provision

The early years block was provisionally underspent by £1.6 million, mainly due to lower than anticipated take-up across the new entitlements for 0-2 year olds. The schools block was provisionally underspent by £0.3 million, relating to de-delegations ring fenced to maintained schools. The central school services block was in line with the annual budget.

The report also provided details of school balances as of 31 March 2025. The DSG balances moved from an overall cumulative deficit of £1.0 million to a cumulative deficit of £21.5 million. This deficit was attributed to a 70% increase in Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) since vesting day, rising costs due to inflation, and a lack of placement supply in local schools.

There were two schools with balances above the allowable levels, and the council did not intend to clawback any of the uncommitted balances above 10%. Eight schools were in deficit at the end of 2024-25, with a total deficit value of £443,000.

Maintained School Balances

The Schools Forum was asked to approve the carry forward of two school balances above 10% of their budget.

DSG Deficit Management Plan Update

Ben Pearson was scheduled to provide an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant Deficit Management Plan.

Central Government Grants 2025-26

The Schools Forum was scheduled to receive information on the administrative arrangements for allocating central government grants in 2025-26. The majority of grants provided by the government are delegated to maintained schools only, with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) paying academies directly. West Northamptonshire Council aims to pay grants to schools in the month following receipt of the payment.

There were no significant changes to the grants or their administration arrangements for payment to schools and academies in 2025-26. New grants for 2025-26 are the National Insurance Grant and Schools Budget Support Grant (SBSG).

Appendix A of the report pack provided a table of grants and payment dates for the 2025-26 financial year, and a list of grants believed to have now ceased.

Other Business

The agenda included the election of a chair and vice-chair for 2025-26, a verbal update on the Scheme for Financing Schools, and a verbal update on the Schools and Early Years Funding 2026-27 consultations process and timelines. The forum was also scheduled to discuss the forward plan, including items such as DSG monitoring, Department for Education (DfE) / ESFA funding announcements, school budgets, high needs, early years, and the national funding formula².