The Schools Forum of Buckinghamshire Council met on Tuesday 21 April 2026 to discuss the Dedicated Schools Budget (DSG) and the High Needs Budget. Key discussions included the projected deficit for the 2025-26 financial year, the updated High Needs Budget for 2026-27, and the implications of the government's SEND reform announcements.

Dedicated Schools Budget - Revenue Budget Monitoring 2025-26

The Schools Forum received an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) revenue budget monitoring for the 2025-26 financial year, as of Period 10 (January). The overall budgeted in-year deficit for the DSG is £22.9 million, which is in line with the initial budget. This means the cumulative DSG reserve deficit is forecast to be £47.4 million as at 31 March 2026. While the overall deficit remains consistent, there are variations within specific categories. Notably, there is an adverse variance of £2.6 million in alternative provision and an adverse variance of £1.5 million for special schools top-ups. Conversely, there is a favourable variance of £4 million in independent schools and £1.2 million in mainstream top-ups for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The report indicated that the final outturn position for the 2025-26 DSG would be presented at the next Schools Forum meeting.

High Needs Budget Update 2026-27

The forum was presented with an updated High Needs Budget for 2026-27, which projects a deficit of £30.3 million. This figure is based on a standstill budget allocation from the Department for Education (DfE), meaning no increase in funding for the High Needs Block. The DfE has announced a High Needs Stability Grant, which will cover 90% of the projected deficit up to 31 March 2026, leaving Buckinghamshire Council to fund £4.74 million. However, this grant is contingent on the submission and approval of a Local SEND reform plan.

Significant pressures on the High Needs Budget include a projected increase in demand, uplifts and fee increases, and the cost of reducing the EHCP backlog, estimated at £12.3 million over two years. To address the deficit, a savings programme has been proposed, totalling £13 million. Key savings initiatives include retaining 2% of primary children within mainstream schools to free up special school places, increasing autism capacity in mainstream settings, and a proposed no uplifts for Special Schools measure.

Concerns were raised about the feasibility of these savings, particularly the no uplifts for Special Schools measure, which was noted as potentially impacting the special school community. There was also discussion about the complexity of needs within special schools and the potential for young people to require smaller settings than those currently available in Buckinghamshire. The council's previous application for a Free School in Haddenham, which would have provided 152 places, was cancelled by the government, impacting the council's target of increasing special school places. While £8.3 million was offered as a gesture to support mainstream provision, this was considered insufficient.

SEND Reform Announcements

The forum received a verbal update on the government's SEND reform plan, outlined in the White Paper Every Child Achieving and Thriving. The reforms include an additional £4 billion in funding nationally over three years, with allocations for an Inclusive Mainstream Fund and Expert at Hand funding for specialist support in schools. The reforms propose a three-tiered system of SEND support, with EHCPs reserved for specialist-level needs. A key proposal is that children with an EHCP above Year 2 will retain it until at least age 16.

The tight timescale for developing and submitting a Local SEND reform plan to the DfE by mid-June was highlighted as a significant challenge. An extraordinary online meeting of the Schools Forum is proposed for the first week of June to allow for feedback on a draft plan. The need for robust co-production with schools, parent carer forums, and other stakeholders was emphasised, although the deadline makes thorough engagement difficult.

Discussions also touched upon the potential impact of these reforms on mainstream schools, the need for clearer definitions of inclusion and belonging, and the importance of multi-agency working between education, health, and care services. The potential for unintended consequences of the reforms was also acknowledged, with a plea for Buckinghamshire to engage actively with national bodies to advocate for a sensible approach to the division between mainstream and special school provision.

The meeting also noted the ongoing work to address the EHCP backlog, with a project team working to clear approximately 1,200 EHCPs. While progress is being made, concerns remain about potential future spikes in demand due to parental anxiety surrounding the reforms.

The forum also discussed the curriculum review, which could play a role in supporting schools to manage children's needs within the school environment by broadening the curriculum and reducing the emphasis on EBacc measures. A positive aspect of the White Paper was seen as the potential to address the financial pressures on local authorities caused by the high cost of independent specialist placements.