The Wiltshire Council Schools Forum was scheduled to discuss the transfer of funding between school blocks, the draft Local SEND Reform Plan for Wiltshire, and updates from working groups. The meeting also included a briefing on updated guidance regarding the Experts at Hand offer within the SEND reforms.

Transfer of Funding from Schools Block to High Needs Block 2027/28

The Schools Forum was scheduled to consider options for a block transfer of funding from the schools block to the high needs block for the 2027/28 financial year. A report by Liz Williams, Finance Lead - High Needs Sustainability, outlined that historically, Wiltshire has agreed to such transfers, with a £1.000m (0.25%) transfer agreed for 2026/27. The report highlighted that the high needs block overspend in Wiltshire had continued to increase, reaching a provisional cumulative deficit of £86.384m at the end of the 2025/26 financial year. The context for the 2027/28 consideration included changes to how Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficits would be managed through a new High Needs Stability Grant, the cessation of the Safety Valve Programme, and the requirements of the Schools White Paper's SEND Reforms. Two options were presented: to agree not to consult with schools on a block transfer proposal, or to consult on a level of transfer that is affordable without impacting National Funding Formula (NFF) rates. The report recommended that the Council should not consult with schools on a block transfer for 2027/28.

Draft Local SEND Reform Plan for Wiltshire

The forum was scheduled to receive an overview of the draft Wiltshire SEND Reform Plan, presented by Ben Stevens, Inclusion, SEND and Alternative Provision Lead. This plan is intended for submission to the Secretary of State. The report detailed the Reform Journey, outlining key milestones from co-design in March-April 2026 to the transition to a new system by September 2035. It highlighted the council's SEND transformation journey, focusing on earlier support, improved practice, stronger sufficiency, and a shift to a whole-system approach. The Department for Education (DfE) expectations for Year 1 of the reforms were outlined, including clear actions, building blocks for reform such as Experts at Hand and Sufficiency, and monitoring and evaluation. The plan aimed to achieve earlier, more inclusive support, establish an Experts at Hand offer for specialist advice, increase sufficiency and local provision, and foster stronger partnership and co-production. The report also addressed the current challenges, including variation in inclusive practice, stretched SENCO capacity, and fragmented services, and detailed how the reforms would address these issues through a clear 3-tier system, a single Experts at Hand model, and a clearer continuum of provision.

An agenda supplement provided a briefing note on updated DfE guidance for the Experts at Hand (EaH) offer, published on 5 June 2026. This guidance moved the programme into delivery from September 2026, introduced minimum national expectations for Year 1, and provided a more prescriptive definition of how the offer must operate. The new guidance clarified that EaH is a structured support offer for mainstream settings, delivered alongside school staff, time-limited, and focused on group, cohort, or whole-setting support, rather than individual provision. A significant change was the restriction of the grant funding to a defined set of professional groups: speech and language therapists (SALT), occupational therapists (OT), educational psychologists (EP), and specialist teachers. This represented a reduction in local flexibility compared to earlier guidance. The briefing note explained that Wiltshire's original model, which included a broader multidisciplinary offer, would need to be revised to align with the new national guidance. However, it was noted that Local SEND Reform Plans submitted on 19 June 2026 would be assessed against the commissioning documents shared in March 2026, and plans would not be penalised for not yet incorporating the updated guidance. Following submission, local areas would be advised to refine their workforce plans to align with the new EaH grant conditions.

Updates from Working Groups

The Forum was scheduled to note the minutes and updates from the Early Years Reference Group meeting held on 21 May 2026. This meeting focused on determining an equitable and practical approach to distributing a new government inclusion fund to early years providers. Discussions included the funding overview, allocation basis, distribution model options, minimum funding expectations, permitted use of funding, and accountability requirements. The group explored how to maximise impact through collaboration and refine the distribution approach.

Confirmation of Dates for Future Meetings

The dates for future Schools Forum meetings were to be confirmed. These were scheduled for 8 October 2026 (virtual), 10 December 2026 (face to face), 21 January 2027 (face to face), and 18 March 2027 (virtual).