The Wandsworth Schools Forum met on Monday 6 July 2026 to discuss the Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) Sufficiency Plan and the High Needs Stability Grant. The forum also reviewed school balances for the financial year 2025-26 and considered pupil population projections.

SEND Sufficiency Plan

The meeting was scheduled to discuss the strategic direction of the Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) Sufficiency Plan. The report pack indicated that the plan aims to strengthen inclusive practice in mainstream settings, utilise inclusion bases and specialist provision more strategically, and ensure children and young people receive the right support earlier. It highlighted that in 2025, there were 3,361 children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), a figure forecast to rise to 3,941 by 2029 without reform. The report noted that independent specialist placements remain the most expensive part of the system, with 10.2% of the EHCP cohort placed in these settings. The plan proposes a shift in practice, with schools expected to strengthen ordinarily available provision, engage in cluster-based working, and use specialist advice to build capacity within their settings. The report also detailed the distribution of specialist provision across the borough, noting geographical gaps, particularly in the secondary phase.

SEND Reforms - High Needs Stability Grant - Update

An update was scheduled regarding the Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) Reforms and the High Needs Stability Grant. The report indicated that Wandsworth's reform model builds on existing strengths, including high EHCP timeliness and a stable SEND workforce. The reform programme aims to make support earlier, clearer, and more consistent for children, families, and schools. A central delivery mechanism for reform is the Experts at Hand model, a multidisciplinary, cluster-based approach designed to bring specialist advice closer to schools and early years settings. This model aims to provide consultation, joint problem-solving, coaching, and workforce development to help schools identify and meet needs earlier. The report also outlined the cluster-based delivery model, organised through nine place-based clusters, which will serve as the main unit for local delivery, data review, and shared accountability. The refreshed Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP) framework was also mentioned as setting out shared expectations for inclusive practice and graduated response across mainstream settings. The financial context indicated that the High Needs Block remains under significant pressure, with expenditure forecast to increase.

School Balances FY 2025-26

The forum was scheduled to review the retained earnings held by maintained schools in Wandsworth for the financial year 2025-26. The report indicated that overall school balances had increased steadily between FY 2020-21 and FY 2025-26, with cumulative reserves reaching £45.8m. For maintained schools specifically, reserves increased by 6.8% in FY 2025-26 to £15.5m. Academy reserves also saw an increase of 4.8% since August 2024, totalling £30.3m. The report provided a breakdown of balances for maintained nursery, primary, secondary, and special schools, as well as maintained alternative provision. Benchmarking data for FY 2024-25 suggested that Wandsworth primary schools compared favourably with regional and national comparators, holding stronger cumulative reserves.

Pupil Population Projections and Implications

The meeting was set to consider pupil population projections and their implications for Wandsworth. The report stated that projections are based on ward-level population forecasts from the Greater London Authority (GLA), enhanced by school roll data and local knowledge. It noted that birth rates are forecast to continue decreasing until at least 2030, which is likely to drive a reduced need for school places over the next decade. The secondary population is also projected to decline from 2027/28. The report detailed the impact on mainstream schooling, including a strategy of reducing the number of forms of entry for schools to manage declining need and ensure future flexibility. It outlined specific changes and proposals for primary school forms of entry by locality, as well as existing and possible changes to secondary school forms of entry. The report concluded that the next 10 years will be challenging for school budgets due to declining pupil rolls and that working together at a system level to adjust forms of entry is critical for the sustainability of the school system in Wandsworth.