The Wandsworth Schools Forum was scheduled to consider updates on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) forecast for the 2026-27 financial year, alongside an analysis of the demand, costs, and future priorities for independent specialist provision. The forum was also scheduled to receive updates on the Nursery Inclusion Project for All (NIPA) and the Responsive Support Offer pilot.

Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Monitoring FY 2026-27

The Schools Forum was scheduled to receive an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) forecast for the 2026-27 financial year. The report indicated an expected overall overspend of £16.112 million, primarily driven by a projected overspend of £23.112 million in the High Needs Block. This pressure was attributed to rising demand for Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) support, increasing complexity of need, and higher specialist placement costs. Despite a declining school-age population, the number of children and young people supported through Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) had continued to rise, placing sustained pressure on High Needs expenditure. The report also noted a forecast underspend in the Early Years Block of £6 million and the Schools Block of £1 million, which would partially offset the overall deficit. The forecast assumed a brought-forward DSG deficit of £3.255 million, reflecting a 90% write-off of the cumulative deficit through the High Needs Stability Grant.

Independent Specialist Provision: Demand, Costs and Future Priorities

An updated analysis of Wandsworth's use of independent specialist provision was scheduled to be presented, highlighting trends in demand and expenditure. The report indicated a growing reliance on independent specialist provision, with over 400 children and young people placed in such settings, a 12% increase from April 2026 and a 60% increase since 2020/21. Annual expenditure had more than doubled from £8.72 million in 2020/21 to a forecast £21.05 million in 2026/27. The report noted that Wandsworth places 7.1% of children and young people with an EHCP in independent specialist provision, which is higher than the London average of 4.4% and the national average of 6.4%. The analysis highlighted that placement pressure was increasingly concentrated in the secondary phase, with new secondary placements rising by 140% between 2022/23 and 2025/26. The report also detailed the current provider profile and costs, with autism being the most prominent area of provision, alongside support for specific learning difficulties, speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs. The average cost per placement had risen by 51% since 2020/21.

Nursery Inclusion Project for All (NIPA) - Update

An update on the Nursery Inclusion Project for All (NIPA) was scheduled to be provided. The report detailed the impact of the project during 2025-26, highlighting how a multidisciplinary, early intervention approach improved outcomes for children, families, and practitioners across participating nursery settings. The project supported 18 settings in 2025-26, providing a universal offer in the Autumn term and a targeted offer to 118 children in the spring and summer terms. The report indicated that NIPA aims to support early years settings in meeting the needs of children delayed in the three prime areas of development, with a significant increase in the number of children working at the expected standard by the end of the year. The project also tracked the impact on the likelihood of pupils requiring an Education and Health Care Needs assessment (EHCP), with baseline data suggesting that without NIPA intervention, approximately 49% of pupils were likely to require an EHCP by the end of year one. The report also presented financial cost avoidance figures for previous NIPA cohorts.

Responsive Support Offer - Update

The Schools Forum was scheduled to receive an updated report on the Responsive Support Offer (RSO) pilot. The RSO is a short-term, intensive, and multi-agency intervention designed to support children and young people presenting with significant complexity in mainstream settings, aiming to sustain and stabilise placements. The pilot, which commenced in February 2026, had supported seven children and young people across seven Wandsworth primary schools. The report indicated positive early impact, with all children remaining in mainstream provision and showing reduced incidents of challenging behaviour. The pilot had also been recognised for its inclusive practice and presented at a London SEND Inclusion and Learning conference. The report requested £50,000 to continue the pilot in the 2026-27 academic year, with a key performance indicator to maintain 12 pupils within maintained mainstream provision. The report highlighted the strategic alignment between the RSO and the emerging Experts at Hand model, with the RSO operating as a more intensive intervention.

Forward Plan

The Schools Forum was scheduled to note items to be brought to the December meeting, including an update on the Enhanced Transition Project, inclusion projects supporting the SEND Reform, and an update on the National Funding Formula once information from the Department for Education (DfE) had been received.