The Enfield Council Schools Forum met on 3 December 2025 to discuss updates to the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), school funding arrangements, and de-delegated services. The forum was also scheduled to discuss a proposed block transfer from the DSG schools block to the high needs block.

2025/26 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Update

The Schools Forum was scheduled to note updates to the 2025/26 DSG funding allocations and the Quarter 2 budget monitoring position. The Public Reports Pack included a report from Melissa Williamson, Strategic Finance Manager, which detailed changes to the DSG allocations since December 2024.

The report stated that the DSG allocation before recoupment¹ and deductions was £462.681 million, a decrease of £1.450 million since December 2024. After deductions, the DSG allocation was £266.527 million, a decrease of £189.848 million since December 2024.

The report also noted that the Quarter 2 monitoring position showed an expected overspend in the high needs area of £4.471 million, leading to a cumulative DSG deficit forecast of £21.889 million. The report attributed the high needs overspend to ongoing increases in demands and costs of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision and support.

2026/27 School Funding Arrangements

The Schools Forum was scheduled to note a report on the 2026/27 schools national funding formula (NFF) arrangements, which were published by the Department for Education (DfE) on 19 November 2025.

The Public Reports Pack included a report from Melissa Williamson, Strategic Finance Manager, which stated that the DfE had advised that details on High Needs and Early Years funding for 2026 to 2027 would be published at a later date.

The report also provided details on the provisional DSG Schools Block funding allocations, school NFF details for mainstream schools, the school budget timetable, and next steps.

According to the report, the provisional Schools Block funding allocation was £348.669 million, an increase of £9.239 million (2.72%) compared to the 2025/26 Schools Block baseline.

The report noted that the government confirmed that there would be no changes to the structure of the schools NFF, with the same factors used in the formula as in 2025/26.

The report stated that the local authority was not proposing any changes to the local funding formula, applying the same methodology and principles used in 2025/26 to calculate the draft DSG School Block budget and funding formula.

De-Delegation 2026/27

The Schools Forum was asked to consider and agree proposals for de-delegated services for maintained schools for the 2026/27 financial year.

The Public Reports Pack included a report which summarised the de-delegated services that were provided to maintained schools in the current financial year.

De-delegated services cover:

• Contingencies (GDPR²)
• Free School Meals Eligibility
• CLEAPSS³ licences and subscriptions
• Trade Union Facilities time
• Additional school improvement services for secondary schools

The report proposed maintaining the current de-delegated services in 2026/27, applying a 3.5% uplift to reflect inflation. Maintained primary and secondary school members were asked to consider and agree to the proposals.

2026/27 DSG Block Transfer

The Schools Forum was asked to agree to the transfer of 0.5% from the DSG Schools Block to the High Needs Block to support mainstream schools with high numbers of pupils with Education, Health and Care plans (EHCPs).

The Public Reports Pack included a report which stated that the Department for Education (DfE) confirmed that local authorities would be allowed to transfer up to and including 0.5% of the Schools Block into another DSG block, with Schools Forum approval.

The report stated that the local authority was proposing to continue to transfer 0.5% of the total Schools Block allocation to the High Needs Block in the 2026/27 financial year. This funding would be allocated outside of the school funding formula to mainstream schools and academies with above the calculated average numbers of pupils with EHCPs. The report noted that no changes were proposed to the current allocation methodology.

The report also summarised the consultation responses received from schools regarding the proposal.