The Schools Forum of Kingston upon Thames Council met on Monday 28 September 2026 to discuss the 2026/27 finance update and progress on the SEND Futures Plan. The forum noted the projected Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) position for the 2026/27 financial year, which indicated a significant projected overspend, and received an update on the ongoing SEND reforms and the refresh of the SEND Futures Plan.

2026/27 Finance Update

Melanie Hanson, Head of Finance for Richmond, presented the 2026/27 finance update, highlighting the current DSG allocation and its application to the schools budget. The forum was informed that the projected in-year overspend for 2026/27 is £18.508 million, with the majority of this deficit attributed to the High Needs Block. This brings the cumulative deficit on the DSG to £20.532 million, which is projected to be £16.947 million after factoring in an estimated stability grant.

Councillor Sachin Tulyani, a councillor for Kingston, raised concerns about benchmarking Kingston's DSG performance against other boroughs, particularly regarding per-head spend on students with special educational needs. Melanie Hanson explained that pressures in this area are significant across the country, with Richmond experiencing similar challenges. Charis Penfold, who also spoke on the matter, noted that the historical formula for the high needs block contributes to inequalities across local areas.

The forum also noted a projected underspend of £300,000 in the Early Years Block. A new pilot proposed by the Department for Education (DfE) to trial an increase in the notional SEN threshold was discussed, with council officers recommending against participation at this stage due to concerns about the funding not being ring-fenced and the potential for inconsistencies across local authorities.

SEND Futures Plan

Charis Penfold provided an update on the SEND Futures Plan and SEND Reforms. The report detailed how the SEND Reform Plan will be incorporated into the SEND Futures Plan to create a single strategic transformation plan for the local area. Kingston's draft plan had been submitted to the DfE, and the updated SEND Futures Plan was scheduled to launch at a conference on 15 October.

A key focus of the plan is the implementation of the Specialist Expertise at Hand model, which aims to provide early intervention, advice, and support to schools, providers, and early years settings without the need for an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) needs assessment or plan. Another workstream focuses on inclusivity in mainstream schools through a locally developed inclusion charter and strategy.

Councillor Tulyani questioned the difference in the increase of EHC plans between Kingston (a 7% increase) and Richmond (a 7% decrease). Charis Penfold explained that this difference is likely due to the varying prevalence of need and demographics in each borough, as the SEND service and processes are consistent across both.

Concerns were raised regarding the recruitment of educational psychologists and occupational therapists, which is a national challenge and poses a risk to the implementation of the Specialist Expertise at Hand model. The impact of ongoing consultations and potential cuts within the South West London Integrated Care Board (ICB) was also highlighted as a concern, potentially affecting their capacity to engage with SEND reforms.

The forum also received a verbal update on the Cluster Budget, which has been a successful pilot scheme for sharing resources and expertise among local schools. The plan is to expand this model across Kingston and Richmond by September 2027.

The meeting concluded with the noting of the update on the SEND Futures Plan and the Cluster Budget. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Monday 18 November 2026.