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 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) provisional outturn, which revealed a significant deficit, and an update on the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform plan.

DSG Provisional Outturn and School Balances

The forum noted the forecast outturn position for the year ending 31 March 2026, which indicated an overall Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit of £55.4 million. This deficit is largely attributed to an 88% increase in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) since the council's vesting day, coupled with rising inflation and a lack of local placement capacity for SEND provision. The high needs block alone faces a deficit of £64.5 million.

While a High Needs Stability Grant is anticipated from the Department for Education (DfE) to cover 90% of accrued deficits, this is contingent on the approval of the council's SEND reform plan. The forum also discussed the financial health of maintained schools, noting that while overall balances had slightly increased, 39 out of 64 schools reported lower balances than the previous year. Maintained school members approved the carry forward of three school balances that exceeded the 10% threshold, with officers reviewing the reasons provided by each school. Eight maintained schools ended the year in deficit, with the total value of these deficits increasing by £343,000 to £786,000.

SEND Reform Plan Update

Ben Pearson, Assistant Director for Education, provided an update on the SEND reform plan, which is a response to national recognition that the current SEND system is broken. The reforms aim for more inclusive mainstream education, earlier identification and intervention, and greater fairness and consistency. The council has submitted its SEND Reform Plan, Maturity Matrix, and Data Operational and Outcome Data to the DfE, with feedback expected in September 2026.

The plan includes a significant allocation of Experts at Hand funding from the DfE, with West Northamptonshire receiving £3.38 million for the 2026-27 financial year. This funding is intended to increase direct support for schools, staff, and families, with a minimum of 80% dedicated to these areas. The reforms are structured around four building blocks: strengthening inclusion, system leadership, access to specialist support and placements, and fostering an inclusive culture. A new Local Inclusion Support Offer (LISO) will be developed, detailing support available at a local level and how to access it.

Concerns were raised about the availability of specialist staff nationally, as all local authorities will be seeking to recruit from a limited pool. The council plans to recruit permanent staff and build capacity through training and development programmes, including a model similar to previous National Leaders of Education. The forum also discussed the significant mental health crisis among young people, with concerns that this is not adequately addressed within the current reform proposals.

Schools and Early Years Funding 2027-28

Emily Cooledge and Beth Baines outlined the proposed process for consulting on schools and early years funding for the 2027-28 financial year. A draft consultation will be presented to the forum in October, with consultation running through November and responses to be voted on in December. They requested early feedback on any specific areas members wished to see included in the draft consultation. The forum noted that a provisional settlement from the government was unlikely, making budget setting challenging.

Discussions also focused on improving response rates to consultations, with suggestions including clearer communication about the impact of responses and using various communication channels to promote the consultations. The language used in consultations was also highlighted as a potential barrier, particularly for those from a humble practitioner background in the early years sector.

Administrative Arrangements for Central Government Grants 2026-27

Beth Baines provided an overview of the administrative arrangements for central government grants for the 2026-27 financial year. Key changes include the discontinuation of the Primary PE and Sports Premium, to be replaced by a new Partnerships Network, and the integration of several other funding streams into the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and Early Years funding formula. The forum noted that grant arrangements can change throughout the year and that gov.uk remains the most up-to-date source of information.

Forward Plan

Schools Forum members noted the latest version of the Forward Plan. However, due to the meeting becoming inquorate, this was not a formal resolution. The plan includes standing items such as DSG monitoring, DfE/ESFA funding announcements, school budgets, high needs, early years, and the national funding formula. Future meetings will focus on consultation proposals and outcomes for schools and early years funding, as well as the West Northamptonshire Council budget proposals.

Other Discussions

The meeting also included the election of Paul Wheeler as Chair for 2026-27. The election of a Vice-Chair was deferred to the next meeting. The minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 February 2026 were approved. A verbal update on the West Northamptonshire Council School Organisation Plan was also provided, outlining projections for school places and housing delivery.