The Bury Schools' Forum was scheduled to consider the financial position of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the second quarter of the 2026-27 financial year, alongside a longer-term forecast. The meeting was also scheduled to discuss school funding agreements for 2027-28 and receive an update on reforms concerning Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Quarter 2 Financial Position

The Bury Schools' Forum was scheduled to review a draft report detailing the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) financial position for the second quarter of the 2026-27 financial year. This report was expected to outline a projected overspend of £13.09 million by March 31, 2027. This figure was anticipated to be driven by forecast in-year overspending within the High Needs Block (HNB), with an additional pressure of £6.28 million on top of a projected budget gap of £6.81 million. The report was also expected to detail a total projected DSG deficit of £33.375 million at March 2027, excluding the High Needs Stability Grant.

The report was scheduled to explain that an Early Years funding deduction of £0.88 million had occurred in July 2026, relating to an underspend reported in the Council's 2025/26 outturn report. The document was also expected to provide a forecast summary of the DSG across all four funding blocks, highlighting significant ongoing financial pressure on the HNB. This pressure was attributed to rising demand and costs associated with the increasing number of children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), while Department for Education (DfE) funding had not kept pace.

A longer-term forecast was also scheduled to be presented, indicating projected deficits for future years: £14.03 million in 2026-27, £18.81 million in 2027-28, and £25.10 million in 2028-29. These figures were presented inclusive of the 90% High Needs Stability Grant funding. The report was expected to note that the HNB pressure remains a national issue, requiring funding reform.

School Funding Agreement 2027-28

The meeting was scheduled to consider school funding for the 2027-28 financial year. This discussion was expected to cover information typically issued by the DfE in the summer term, which was anticipated to be received later in the autumn. The agenda item was scheduled to include details on the National Funding Formula (NFF) for 2027-28, as outlined in a DfE summary document released on October 2, 2026.

Key aspects of the funding agreement were scheduled to be discussed, including an adjustment to teachers' pension employer contributions. From April 2027, these contributions were set to decrease from 28.6% to 17.6%. The report was expected to explain that funding for schools would be reduced nationally to reflect this decreased cost, aiming for a cost-neutral outcome for public sector employers. The total reduction across all schools and further education providers was estimated to be around £3 billion in the 2027-2028 financial year in England. This funding reduction was to be incorporated into the schools' NFF and local authority funding formulae.

The report was scheduled to detail how this adjustment would be applied through changes to the basic per-pupil factor, lump sum, and FSM6 factor values, as well as minimum per-pupil levels and the baseline for funding protections. Specific per-pupil reductions for primary, key stage 3, and key stage 4 pupils, along with lump sum reductions, were expected to be outlined for mainstream schools. Similar adjustments were anticipated for academies, with different base rates for April to August 2027. The treatment for Special and Alternative Provision (AP) schools was to be confirmed later.

Furthermore, the meeting was scheduled to discuss the rolling of the School Budget Support Grant (SBSG) 26 into the 2027-2028 schools NFF. This grant provides additional funding to support schools with overall costs, including pay awards. The report was expected to confirm that the mainstream schools' element of the SBSG 26 would continue to form part of schools' core budgets.

A significant point of discussion was scheduled to be the proposed transfer of up to 0.50% of the Schools Block allocation to the High Needs Block for 2027-28. This was to address the growing pressures within the HNB. The report was expected to detail how this transfer would be achieved, potentially through utilising unallocated Schools Block headroom or by reducing basic entitlement and lump sum factors within NFF regulations. The average impact of such a transfer on schools and academies was to be presented, noting that impacts would vary. The recommendation was for the Schools Forum to approve the 0.50% transfer.

Finally, the meeting was scheduled to consider the Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) for 2027-2028. The MFG is a protection within the DSG that prevents a school's per-pupil funding from decreasing by more than a set percentage year-on-year. For 2026-27, the MFG had been set at -0.50%. The report was expected to recommend that the MFG level remain at -0.50% for 2027-28, in line with anticipated DfE guidance, with the understanding that any significant changes in MFG levels would be communicated to the Forum.

SEND Reform Update

An update on reforms concerning Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) was scheduled to be provided at the meeting. While the specific details of this update were not detailed in the provided documents, it was expected to cover progress and developments in the SEND system. This would likely include information on the implementation of new policies and strategies aimed at improving support for children and young people with SEND.

Minutes of the Last Meeting and Membership Update

The Bury Schools' Forum was scheduled to review the minutes of its previous meeting, held on July 9, 2026. Additionally, an update on the membership of the Schools' Forum was scheduled to be presented, which would likely detail any changes in representation from various school sectors and professional associations.