The Schools Forum meeting scheduled for 26 March 2026 was set to cover a range of financial updates and policy considerations for Barnet's schools. Key discussions were expected to include the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) forecast outturn, school balances, and early years funding for the upcoming academic year. The forum was also scheduled to receive updates on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP), including the High Needs Block financial position and the development of in-house therapy services.

Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Forecast Outturn 2025-26

The meeting was scheduled to receive an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) forecast outturn for the 2025-26 financial year, as at Month 11. The report indicated a projected adverse variance against the budget, with a forecast overspend primarily within the High Needs Block. This overspend was expected to be partially offset by an underspend in the Growth Fund. The report also detailed the projected DSG reserves to be carried forward into the next financial year, taking into account previously agreed uses of reserves for migrant families and therapies.

2025-26 School Balances - Q3 Update

A report was scheduled to provide an update on the financial position of Barnet's maintained schools as at Quarter 3 of the 2025-26 financial year. The document highlighted significant financial pressures faced by schools, including rising staff costs, falling rolls, and increased energy prices. It indicated a year-on-year increase in the number of schools forecasting a revenue deficit, with a substantial rise in the total forecasted deficit balance compared to the previous financial year. The report also noted a trend of decreasing surplus balances and an increase in schools operating in deficit, a situation not unique to Barnet but affecting London local authorities more broadly due to factors such as the cost of living and the UK's exit from the European Union.

2026-27 Early Years Funding

The forum was scheduled to receive an update on the Early Years funding rates for the 2026-27 financial year. This update was to reflect the first full year of the central government's extension to early years funding, announced in 2023. The report was expected to detail proposed hourly rates for various entitlement groups, including 3- and 4-year-olds, and 2-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with working parents. It was noted that early years funding would be updated termly using census data, and there would be an increased minimum pass-through requirement for local authorities. The report also outlined the proposed allocation of the Early Years Block budget, including funding for centrally provided services.

Schools Overdraft Balances

A report was scheduled to highlight the current status of NatWest school accounts in overdraft and upcoming actions to address these. The document explained that schools are not permitted to borrow externally from the Local Authority without specific permission, and overdrafts on bank accounts are considered external borrowing. It was noted that a number of school accounts were in persistent overdraft, and NatWest had indicated that these overdrafts would need to be cleared by 31 April 2026. The council was unable to provide direct funding to clear these overdrafts and would therefore need to make cash advances from schools' block funding, which would be repaid through deductions from future school budget shares.

SEND and AP Update

The meeting was scheduled to receive an update on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP). This update was to cover four key areas: the Government's 2026 Schools White Paper and its implications for Barnet; the current financial position of the High Needs Block (HNB) using month 10 data; an update on therapies; and the Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce (APST).

The White Paper was expected to outline a national model for inclusion in mainstream schools, with proposals for statutory digital Individual Support Plans and nationally defined Specialist Provision Packages. The report was to highlight the significant capital investment for specialist places and inclusion bases, which would support Barnet's development of maintained special school capacity. However, considerable uncertainty was noted regarding local delivery, accountability, and the practical implementation of national reform funding.

The High Needs Block was forecast to have a significant overspend by the end of the 2025-26 financial year, with pressures driven by high-cost independent placements, Section 19 duties, and rising complexity in mainstream settings. Barnet's strategies to mitigate these pressures included local sufficiency, development of special school places, early intervention, and strengthening local therapeutic and alternative provision pathways.

An update on therapies was to detail the progress of Barnet's in-house therapy service, which had been funded through the CPP grant but would transition to the High Needs Block from April 2026. The service aimed to address gaps in therapy provision, support statutory processes, and embed the Communication, Sensory and Functional Skills (CSFS) Framework.

The Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce (APST) update was to report on a pilot programme funded by the Department for Education. The APST is a multidisciplinary team designed to provide rapid, responsive understanding of need and intervention for children in or at risk of exclusion from mainstream school. The team comprises a manager, social worker, youth justice practitioner, speech and language therapist, educational psychologist, and an early help family practitioner, working collaboratively with schools, families, and other professionals.

Proposals for Notional SEN Funding and Distribution of Fair Funding from 2026-27

The forum was scheduled to consider proposals for the notional SEN funding and the distribution of Fair Funding from 2026-27. A review of the current Barnet formula for the notional SEN budget indicated a need for updates to ensure compliance with legislation and to align funding levels with statistical neighbours. The proposals aimed to provide schools with guidance on proportionate spending for SEND pupils, ensuring that most children and young people with SEND receive the necessary support within the school's budget. The forum was also to consider proposed changes to the Fair Funding formula distribution, which would affect schools in deficit by requiring them to use a lower proportion of their notional SEN budget before becoming eligible for Fair Funding.