The Schools Forum meeting scheduled for Thursday 2 July 2026 was set to discuss the council's SEND Reform Plan, the provisional outturn report for the Children, Education and Families (CEF) portfolio for the 2025/26 financial year, and the spending of primary, secondary, and special maintained schools in 2025/26. The meeting's agenda also included the confirmation of previous minutes and any other business.

SEND Reform Plan

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to focus on the Bromley SEND Reform Programme, as detailed in the report SEND Reform Plan Agenda Item 4. This plan outlines the strategic approach to system reform, financial sustainability, and value for money, aligning with the Department for Education's Schools White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving. The report indicated that the LA and ICB had submitted the plan on 19 June, following advice from DfE SEND and Financial Advisers and extensive co-production and engagement. The plan was to be evaluated under the DfE's 5-Tier approval framework, with a decision from the Secretary of State anticipated by mid-September. The allocation of additional High Needs Block funding, up to 90% of the DSG deficit position (approximately £35 million for Bromley), was tied to this decision. The Schools Forum was asked to note the progress of the SEND Reform Programme, endorse the strategic approach to financial sustainability and system reform, and support the continued implementation of the Experts at Hand model and associated workforce and sufficiency plans.

CEF Provisional Outturn Report 2025/26

The Schools Forum was also scheduled to review the CEF Provisional Outturn Report 2025/26 Agenda Item 5. This report provided the provisional outturn position for the Children, Education and Families (CEF) Portfolio for the 2025/26 financial year. The report indicated a projected overspend of £1,292,000 for the portfolio. The Director of Children's Services' comments highlighted significant pressures within SEN and Inclusion, particularly due to increasing numbers and complexity of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), a national trend that has seen a 415% increase in EHCPs nationally since the Children and Family Act. Despite efforts to manage the rate of increase in EHCPs and provide earlier support, the rising numbers continued to impact transport costs, exacerbated by a shortage of local specialist provision leading to out-of-borough and independent non-maintained placements. The report detailed projected overspends in various areas, including SEN Transport, Educational Psychology, and the SEN Statutory Assessment Team. It also noted a projected in-year overspend of £12,918,000 for Education (DSG funding), which would be added to existing reserves, creating an estimated DSG reserve of £39,979,000 at the end of the financial year. The report mentioned that the council was preparing an action plan to access government relief for the DSG deficit.

Spending by Primary, Secondary and Special Maintained Schools in 2025/26

The final item scheduled for discussion was Spending by Primary, Secondary and Special Maintained Schools in 2025/26 Agenda Item 6. This report provided information on all revenue and capital balances held by these schools as of 31 March 2026, with a comparison to the previous year. The report indicated that the average level of revenue balances for Maintained Primary Schools was 12% of their School Budget Shares, a slight decrease from the previous year. Secondary School balances decreased from 2% to 1%, and Special School balances decreased from 4% to minus 9%. The report noted that schools with uncommitted balances exceeding 8% had been asked to provide details on the reasons for holding high balances and their plans for reduction. It also highlighted that one school had a deficit balance as at 31 March 2026. The report stated that the Schools Forum was asked to note these balances for information.