The Northumberland County Council Schools' Forum met virtually on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, to discuss several key issues impacting education in the region. These included updates on the national funding formula, a review of special educational needs (SEN) data, and a consultation on school funding. The forum was also scheduled to discuss communications from the Department for Education (DfE) and other organisations regarding special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms.

SEN Data Update

The Schools' Forum was scheduled to receive an update on SEN data in Northumberland. The SEN Data Report included in the report pack contained data up to August 2025, and included:

• The number of requests for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
• The percentage increase in EHCP requests.
• The number of active plans.
• The percentage of EHCPs in Northumberland compared to national and regional figures.
• The number and percentage of students in mainstream and special schools.
• Data on vulnerable children and young people with SEND, including permanent exclusions and suspensions.

The report stated that the main reason for permanent exclusions in Northumberland continued to be persistent disruptive behaviour, followed by physical assault, mirroring the national picture. In the 2024/25 academic year, 77 out of 123 pupils were excluded for persistent disruptive behaviour and 22 out of 123 were excluded for physical assault.

The report also noted a downward trend in permanent exclusions in 2024/25, with a 12% reduction compared to the previous academic year. However, permanent exclusions of children and young people of primary school age and those with EHCPs across all phases had risen, mirroring the national picture.

National Funding Formula and School Funding Consultation

The Schools' Forum was scheduled to discuss and consult on the national funding formula and school funding for 2026/27. The Agenda Item 9 Schools Forum Work Programme and Meeting Dates 2026 indicated that this would be a recurring item, with further updates and consultations planned for future meetings.

Communications on SEND Reform

The Schools' Forum was scheduled to discuss several documents related to SEND reform:

• Breaking the Cycle: A Blueprint for SEND Reform: This report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) set out a framework of recommendations designed to shape the government's approach to reform. The report noted that: > There is consensus that the education system is failing children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and their families. The impact of this failure is profound, affecting not only academic trajectories but also wellbeing and life chances. The report made several recommendations, including:
  • Designing an education system for an inclusive society.
  • Introducing a new model that delivers better support sooner.
  • Building capacity by rebalancing funding and investing in the workforce.
  • Incentivising inclusion by making it a core part of school improvement and accountability.
  • Retaining existing EHCPs as the system gears up to deliver better support sooner.
• Letter from the Secretary of State for Education: This letter from The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, to Helen Hayes MP, Chair of the Education Select Committee, provided an update on the DfE's next steps in response to the committee's report, Solving the SEND Crisis[^2]. [^2]: The Education Select Committee is a cross-party committee of MPs that scrutinises the work of the Department for Education. The letter outlined five principles for SEND reform:
  1. Early intervention
  2. Local provision
  3. Fair resource allocation
  4. Effective, evidence-based practices
  5. Shared responsibility among education, health, and care services
• Letter from f40 Group: This letter from Councillor Alex Dale, Chair of the f40 group[^3], to the Secretary of State for Education, expressed deep disappointment at the further delays to the Schools White Paper and the much-anticipated SEND reforms. [^3]: The f40 group represents 43 of the lowest educationally-funded local authorities across England. The letter urged the Secretary of State to ensure that the Local Government Fair Funding Review[^4] rebalances funding distribution and addresses the accrued and continuing High Needs deficits. [^4]: The Local Government Fair Funding Review is a review of how funding is distributed to local authorities in England.

2025/26 Work Programme and Meeting Dates

The Schools' Forum was scheduled to review the work programme and meeting dates for 2025/26. The Schools Forum Work Programme and Meeting Dates 2026 outlined the topics planned for future meetings, including setting the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for 2026/27, de-delegation decisions, and analysis of school balances.