The Kingston upon Thames Schools Forum met to discuss the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit, the 2026/27 budget, and updates from the High Needs Block (HNB) subgroup. The forum received updates on the financial situation, including a significant overspend in the DSG, and discussed potential solutions and budget proposals for the upcoming year. The forum also considered recommendations from the HNB subgroup regarding funding for the Kingston cluster model¹, further education (FE) costs, therapy shortfalls, and part-time timetables.

2026/27 Budget Consultation

The Schools Forum considered the report on the 2026/27 budget consultation, including Appendix A - Kingston Schools Funding 2026_27 - Consultation 2, Appendix B - Kingston 2026.27 Consultation 2 - illustrations, and Appendix C - Kingston Consultation 2 Responses. The consultation covered various aspects of school funding, including:

• Mainstream School Funding Formula: This determines how funding is allocated to mainstream schools based on factors such as pupil numbers and needs.
• High Needs Funding: This relates to the funding for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• Early Years Funding: This covers funding for early years education providers.

The report summarised the feedback received during the consultation process and outlined the proposed budget for the upcoming financial year.

2025/26 Finance Update

The Schools Forum received an update on the 2025/26 financial situation, as detailed in Item 4 2025 26 Finance Update. A significant in-year overspend of £10.75 million in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG)² was reported, with the High Needs Block accounting for £11.05 million of this overspend. An additional £850,000 was attributed to the continuous rise in future demand. A cumulative deficit of £19 million is projected by the end of the financial year.

The report highlighted key areas contributing to the overspend, including:

• Post-16 Spending: A detailed analysis identified an increase of £1.053 million from the previous financial year, with projected spending reaching over £8 million. This increase was attributed to independent placements, other Local Authority Special provisions, Independent Specialist Providers (ISPs), and FE colleges.
• Alternative Provision (AP) and Placements: The demand for specialist provision is unsustainable, leading to children and young people being placed in AP.
• Therapy Services: Therapy services are streamlining their work plan to prioritise early intervention (0-5 years) and improve local commissioning. Demand analysis revealed an over-reliance on spot commissioning for post-16 mainstream college placements, inadequate inter-borough arrangements, many therapy-related appeals, and insufficient early advice for mainstream schools (especially in Kingston). Special school places have also increased without a corresponding rise in therapists.

High Needs Block (HNB) Subgroup Update

The Schools Forum received a verbal update on the HNB Subgroup's activities. The subgroup had previously met on 14 October 2025, and the Schools Forum November 2025 Kingston Schools High Needs Block meeting minutes were made available.

Key discussion points and actions from the subgroup included:

• Post-16 Data Analysis: Fiona Pace, Head of Inclusive Learning at South Thames Colleges Group, was tasked with working with Scott Gardner, Head of Finance at Achieving for Children (AfC), and Chike Nnalue, Associate Director for SEND at AfC, on post-16 data analysis.
• Alternative Provision (AP) and Part-Time Timetables: Charis Penfold, Director for Education Services at AfC, and Chike Nnalue were assigned to revisit the shared principles of part-time timetables and conduct a deep dive into Workstream 1, reporting back to the subgroup.
• Early Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) Model: Charis Penfold and Chike Nnalue were asked to present the early SALT model at the January 2026 meeting.
• Cluster Model Project: Securing Year 2 funding from the Schools Forum by January was identified as a key challenge to ensure project continuity.

The subgroup identified four key topics for the Schools Forum to consider:

1. Kingston cluster funding model longer term
2. FE costs
3. The shortfall in therapy (and the potential solutions)
4. Part-time timetables (with the impact and complexities this has for potential funding implications and strategic provision).

Esther Brooks, CEO of Coombe Academy Trust and Chair of the HNB Subgroup, was tasked with presenting these areas to the Schools Forum for their consideration. Esther Brooks was also tasked with updating the RBK Schools Forum HNB Subgroup Terms of Reference, sharing them with the subgroup, and submitting them as part of the agenda pack for the Schools Forum meeting on 17 November 2025.