Purpose

To approve the Dedicated Schools Grant
(DSG)
high needs budget for 2024/25 as recommended
by Schools Forum.

Decision

That the
Cabinet:
a)   
Notes the High Needs forecast outturn
position for 2024/25 (as at Q3, December 2024).
b)   
Considers the recommendations of the
Schools Forum held on 14th
March 2025 (Option 2 for the SEN Protection scheme, & the
details in Appendix 3); and
c)   
Approves the High Needs
Budget of £45.7 million for 2025/26 noting the funding gap in
2025/26 of £20.2 million (253% higher than the funding gap
agreed for 2024/25).
 

Alternative options considered

1.            
The Budget Working Group (BWG) & Schools Forum
have been consulted on the proposed budget plan and options
considered are included at Appendix 3. The Children and Families
Act (2014) requires the Council to ensure that the needs of pupils
are met and the Council is required to adhere to the Department for
Education’s (DfE) prescribed arrangements for school and
Local Authority as set out in regulations.
The Budget Working Group (BWG) & Schools Forum have also
been consulted on affordability options for the SEN Protection
scheme, with Option 2 being recommended by Schools Forum for
approval by Cabinet.
A Political Group consultation also took place on April
10th 2025 the views of which can be found in the
consultees section of this report.