Subscribe to updates
You'll receive weekly summaries about West Northamptonshire Council every week.
If you have any requests or comments please let us know at community@opencouncil.network. We can also provide custom updates on particular topics across councils.
West Northamptonshire Schools Forum - Tuesday, 7 July 2026 - 2.00 pm
July 7, 2026 at 2:00 pm West Northamptonshire Schools Forum View on council websiteSummary
Open Council Network is an independent organisation. We report on West Northamptonshire and are not the council. About us
The West Northamptonshire Schools Forum met on Tuesday 7 July 2026, electing Paul Wheeler as Chair for the upcoming year and approving the minutes from their previous meeting. Key discussions included the provisional outturn of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the 2025-26 financial year, which revealed a significant overall deficit, and an update on the SEND Reform Plan.
DSG Provisional Outturn and School Balances
The Schools Forum noted the provisional outturn position for the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the year ending 31 March 2026, which showed an overall overspend of £33.9m. This has resulted in a cumulative DSG deficit of £55.4m carried forward into the 2026-27 financial year. The High Needs block accounts for the majority of this deficit, with an overspend of £36.3m in the 2025-26 financial year alone, bringing its total deficit to £64.5m. This significant increase in the High Needs deficit is attributed to an 88% rise in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) since the council's vesting day, alongside rising costs due to inflation and a lack of local placement supply, forcing the council to use more expensive independent placements.
Despite the overall deficit, maintained school members approved the carry forward of three school balances that were above the 10% threshold. These schools provided reasons for retaining these balances, including supporting falling rolls, ring-fenced community funds, and covering anticipated funding drops over the next couple of years due to falling rolls.
The report also detailed that the government's High Needs Stability Grant (HNSG) is expected to cover 90% of DSG deficits accrued up to the end of the 2025-26 financial year. However, West Northamptonshire Council's overall deficit is less than its High Needs block deficit due to surpluses in other DSG blocks, meaning the council may receive less support than anticipated for its specific High Needs deficit. The government has indicated it will take over funding responsibility for SEND from 2028-29 onwards.
SEND Reform Plan Update
The Schools Forum received an update on the SEND Reform Plan, which aims to address the recognised issues within the current SEND system, including worsening outcomes for children, insufficient budgets, and national deficits totalling £6bn. The reforms focus on more inclusive mainstream education, earlier identification and intervention, local inclusion, fairness, consistency, evidence-based support, shared accountability, and financial stability.
West Northamptonshire's SEND Reform Plan has been submitted to the Department for Education (DfE) and the NHS England. The plan is built around four key areas: a Local Inclusion Support Offer (LISO), the Experts at Hand
(EAH) model, a new SEND & Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy, and a new Outcomes Framework. The EAH funding, totalling £3.38m for West Northamptonshire in 2026/27, is primarily intended for direct support for schools, staff, and families, with up to 20% allowed for central management costs. The plan outlines a tiered system of support and aims to develop locality multi-disciplinary teams based on the model of Family Hubs. The SEND & AP Strategy, which will be underpinned by a Co-production Charter, is expected to be approved in December 2026.
Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
Paul Wheeler was elected as the Chair of the Schools Forum for the 2026-27 academic year. The election of a Vice-Chair was deferred to the next meeting.
Minutes
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 February 2026 were approved as an accurate record.
Schools and Early Years Funding 2027-28 - Consultation Process and Timelines
The Schools Forum noted an update regarding the consultation process and timelines for Schools and Early Years Funding for 2027-28.
Administrative Arrangements for Allocation of Central Government Grants 2026-27
The Schools Forum noted the administrative arrangements for the allocation of central government grants for the 2026-27 financial year. A significant change for this year is the discontinuation of the Primary PE and Sports Grant, which will be replaced by a new Partnerships Network. Several other grants have been consolidated into the core Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocations or into a single legacy funding
grant for special and alternative provision providers.
Forward Plan
Members noted the latest version of the Forward Plan. However, this was not a formal resolution as the meeting had become inquorate.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
-
Schools and Early Years Funding 2027-28 - consultation process and timelines [verbal item]
Recommendations ApprovedWest Northamptonshire Schools Forum noted the update on 07/07/2026.
-
Election of Chair for 2026-27
Recommendations ApprovedWest Northamptonshire Schools Forum elected Paul Wheeler as Chair for 2026-27 on 07 July 2026.
-
SEND Reform Plan Update
Recommendations ApprovedWest Northamptonshire Schools Forum noted the update on 07/07/2026. The update concerned the Schools White Paper and SEND Reforms, including proposals for more inclusive mainstream education, earlier identification and intervention, and financial stability. The plan includes a Local Inclusion Support Offer and the Experts at Hand model, with secondments for experts and a recruitment campaign planned.
-
Election of Vice-Chair for 2026-27
Recommendations ApprovedWest Northamptonshire Schools Forum decided to defer the election of Vice-Chair for 2026-27. This decision was made on 07/07/2026.
-
Forward Plan
Recommendations ApprovedWest Northamptonshire Schools Forum noted the latest version of the Forward Plan on 07 July 2026. This was not a formal resolution as the meeting became inquorate.
-
Minutes
Recommendations ApprovedThe West Northamptonshire Schools Forum approved the minutes of the meeting on 3 February 2026. The forum noted the forecast outturn position for the year ending 31 March 2026. The forum also noted the proposed distribution of the early years special educational needs inclusion funding.
-
Administrative arrangements for allocation of central government grants 2026-27
Recommendations ApprovedThe West Northamptonshire Schools Forum on 07 July 2026 noted the administrative arrangements for central government grants in 2026-27. The forum noted that the Primary PE and Sports grant will cease and be replaced by the Partnerships Network. Several grants, including the Schools Budget Support Grant and National Insurance Contribution Grant, will be rolled into core Dedicated Schools Grant allocations.
-
DSG Provisional Outturn including carry forward requests and school balances
Recommendations ApprovedThe West Northamptonshire Schools Forum on 07 July 2026 noted the forecast outturn position for the year ended 31 March 2026. Maintained school members approved the carry forward of three school balances above 10%.
Attendees
Topics
Meeting Documents
Additional Documents