The Gloucestershire Schools Forum met on Thursday 15 January 2026 to discuss the Dedicated Schools Grant for the upcoming academic year, Early Years funding, and the High Needs budget. The meeting also included an update on the f40 group and the forum's workplan for 2026.

Dedicated Schools Grant 2026/27

The forum was scheduled to consider the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for 2026/27. This included a review of the provisional funding allocations for mainstream schools and local authorities, with an anticipated increase in funding for the Schools block and the Central Schools Services block compared to the previous year. The report pack indicated a proposed top-slice of the Schools block for Growth Funding of £0.429M for 2026/27. Key changes to the National Funding Formula (NFF) for 2026/27 were to be discussed, including the rolling in of the Teachers' Pay and Pension Grant and the National Insurance Contributions (NICs) grant. The report highlighted that while core factors in the NFF had increased, this did not guarantee a 2.1% increase for every school, as Minimum Per Pupil Funding Levels (MPPFLs) could mitigate these increases. The forum was to consider the local authority's disapplication request to the Department for Education (DfE) for the continued application of the exceptional circumstances factor in the 2026/27 financial year. Discussions were also scheduled regarding the de-delegation proposals for 2026/27, with representatives from maintained schools agreeing to de-delegation for in-year increases in pupil numbers, union facilities, and targeted intervention for both primary and secondary schools. The Notional SEND formula was proposed to remain unchanged for 2026/27.

The report pack also detailed the proposed funding formula for 2026/27, which was to be delivered based on a 0.0978% reduction to the National Funding Formula rates. This reduction was necessary due to a shortfall in the funding needed to cover allocations at 100% of the NFF level. The Pupil Premium Grant rates for 2026/27 were also outlined.

Early Years Funding

The forum was scheduled to discuss Early Years funding for 2026/27, noting an increase in the Early Years DSG block. This increase was attributed to the full-year effect of working parents being eligible for up to 30 hours of free childcare entitlement. The report detailed the current position and challenges of Early Years provision in Gloucestershire, including the impact of the cost of living crisis and rising delivery costs on provider sustainability. The expansion of the funded childcare offer, rolled out in stages, was also to be reviewed. The proposed hourly rates for 2026/27 for three- and four-year-olds, two-year-olds, and children aged nine months to under two years were to be presented, with options for the distribution of these rates to be consulted upon. A recommendation was to be considered for 3% of the Early Years DSG block to be retained centrally for support services, with the remaining 97% passed through to Early Years providers.

High Needs

An update on the High Needs financial forecast for 2025/26 was scheduled, indicating a slight increase in the forecast overspend. The report detailed movements in forecasts across various budget areas, including reductions in Alternative Provision and independent placements, and increases in Further Education College placements and secondary mainstream provision. The forum was to receive an update on the High Needs 5-year forecast and was informed of forthcoming national reform milestones related to the SEND system. The report also discussed the potential implications of the statutory override ending in March 2028, where the full cost of SEND provision would be met from central government departmental spending. The forum was to review the proposed budget for High Needs for 2026/27, which projected an overspend. Options for reducing expenditure were to be considered, including removing inflationary increases for the EHCP banding system, a Schools Block Transfer, and the removal or reduction of Targeted SEND funding. The forum was also to be updated on the Schools Financial Survey.

f40 Update

An update on the work of the f40 Group was scheduled. The f40 Group is an organisation representing the 40 local authorities with the lowest funding per pupil. The report indicated that the group was planning a Funding and SEND Reform Campaign Week in January 2026, involving events for MPs and a social media campaign.

Schools Forum Workplan 2026

The forum was scheduled to review its workplan for 2026. This outlined the key priorities for the forum throughout the year, including mainstream funding, High Needs, Early Years, and the role and functions of the Forum itself. The workplan detailed specific items to be considered at future meetings, such as evaluating the impact of National Funding Formula changes, reviewing the childcare market, and responding to government consultations on SEND reforms.

The next meeting was provisionally scheduled to take place on 19 March 2026.