Purpose

To request approval to consult early years’ providers, mainstream schools and academies and special schools and academies within North Yorkshire on early years’, mainstream school and special school funding proposals for the 2027-28 financial year.

Decision

CYPS Executive Members, in conjunction with the Corporate Director –have approved for consultations to be undertaken as follows:

a. With mainstream schools and academies within North Yorkshire; subject to the receipt of further funding information from the DfE for the 2027-28 financial year and based on previous years, the expected principle-based consultation content is:

• The level of the Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) for 2027-28
• The methodology to be used in the event of any surplus or shortfall in funding on the Schools Block DSG after the calculation of school funding formula allocations using the NFF values, as determined by the DfE.
• The calculation of the 2027-28 notional SEN budget, in the event that, based on the latest analysis of the numbers of pupils with SEND in mainstream schools and academies, the notional budget is required to be amended.

b. With special schools and academies within North Yorkshire; subject to the receipt of further funding information from the DfE for the 2027-28 financial year and based on previous years, the expected principle-based consultation content is:

• The level of the Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) for 2027-28, in the event of the funding level increase not being prescribed by the DfE.

c. With early years providers within North Yorkshire; subject to the receipt of further funding information from the DfE for the 2027-28 financial year and based on previous years, the consultation is expected to be principle-based in respect of:

• The early years provider base funding rates for 3 and 4-year-olds (universal and working parent entitlement), 2-year-olds (early learning and working parent entitlements) and 9-month-olds working parent entitlement for 2027-28
• The level of the early years Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF) for 2027-28
• Any other funding consultation deemed to be required for the 2027-28 financial year in response to the DfE national consultation on proposed changes to early years funding.

Reasons for the decision

The Department for Education (DfE) have stated that the schools, high needs and early years national funding formula (NFF) rates and allocations for the 2027-28 financial year will be published in Autumn 2026. In order to ensure that a timely response can be provided by North Yorkshire Council on receipt of the 2027-28 funding information, CYPS Executive Members, in conjunction with the Corporate Director – CYPS, are asked to provide approval.

Alternative options considered

N/A