The Kingston Schools Forum was scheduled to discuss the financial outlook for the current and upcoming academic years, with a particular focus on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and its allocation across different educational blocks. The forum was also set to review the progress of the SEND Futures Plan, a strategic initiative aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

2025/26 Finance Update

The meeting was scheduled to receive an update on the financial position for the 2025/26 academic year, focusing on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocation and its projected outturn. The report indicated a projected overspend of £12.760m for the 2025/26 financial year, primarily driven by pressures within the High Needs Block. This block was forecast to overspend by £13.148m, with significant increases noted in areas such as Top ups - Academies and Independent Placements . The Schools Block was projected to be on budget, while the Early Years Block was anticipated to underspend by £0.416m. The Central School Services Block was projected to overspend by £0.030m. The report highlighted that the number of Education, Health and Care (EHCP) plans had increased by 145 since March 2025.

2026/27 Budget and Early Years Consultation

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the proposed budget for the 2026/27 academic year, including an update on the indicative Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocation. The provisional DSG allocation for 2026/27 was £219.200m, an increase of £11.962m compared to 2025/26. This increase was partly due to the roll-in of previously separate grants. The Schools Block was allocated £147.928m, the Central School Services Block £1.080m, the High Needs Block £37.213m, and the Early Years Block £32.979m. The report also detailed proposed changes to the Central School Services Block budgets and sought approval for early years central items and recommendations for the Early Years Funding Formula. The hourly funding rates for early years providers were set to increase, with a minimum pass-through rate to providers of 97% in 2026/27.

2026/27 Consultation Decision

The forum was scheduled to consider decisions regarding the 2026/27 consultations. This included agreeing on the dates for consultations, the information to be included, and the principles for voting. Three consultations were proposed: one in September, one in October, and a third specifically for Early Years in January. The consultations would cover de-delegation, block transfers, Central School Services Block items, funding formula decisions, and Early Years rates and budgets. The report also raised questions about how votes should be cast, suggesting options such as one vote per school, one vote per academy trust, or votes weighted by pupil numbers.

SEND Futures Plan Update

An update on Kingston's SEND Futures Plan was scheduled, focusing on performance against the Safety Valve Agreement and the implementation of the plan itself. The Safety Valve Agreement, a £30 million funding arrangement with the Department for Education (DfE), was nearing its end in March 2026. The report indicated that Kingston had received all available funding under this programme. The SEND Futures Plan aims to improve outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and enhance the financial sustainability of the system. The update highlighted an increase in the number of Education, Health and Care (EHCP) plans, with 100% of new EHCPs being issued within the 20-week statutory timeframe. The report also detailed progress in areas such as participation and co-production with parents and carers, preparing young people for independence, and high-quality commissioning of SEND services. Concerns were raised about the increasing number of EHCP needs assessment requests and the difficulty in finding suitable sites for alternative provision.

Next Meetings

The dates for future meetings of the Schools Forum were listed, including sessions scheduled for 28 September 2026 (online and in person), 16 November 2026 (online), and 25 January 2027 (online).