The Leicestershire Schools' Forum met on Tuesday 22 September 2026 to discuss the revised constitution for the forum, the financial sustainability of maintained schools, and the sufficiency of special educational needs (SEN) provision. The Forum approved a revised constitution, received an update on school sustainability which highlighted significant projected deficits, and discussed the ongoing challenges in meeting the demand for SEN places.

School Forum Constitution

The Leicestershire Schools' Forum approved a revised constitution for the organisation. The document had been rewritten for clarity and structure, aiming to simplify membership, nomination, and voting arrangements, while maintaining the Forum's statutory role. Key changes included a ten-school-day target for issuing draft minutes and a quorum set at 40% of the relevant membership. The revised constitution was approved with 11 votes in favour, none against, and no abstentions. The new membership and nomination arrangements are to be implemented before the next meeting.

School Sustainability

An update was provided on the financial sustainability of maintained schools in Leicestershire. A specialist education finance consultant, EPI, had reviewed the three-year forecasts, staffing affordability, pupil-to-teacher ratios, leadership costs, SEND funding, and premises occupancy for all 65 maintained schools. The analysis revealed that 57 schools are forecasting a cumulative deficit by March 2029, totalling £26.50 million. Key financial themes identified within the submitted budgets included workforce affordability, with median staffing costs exceeding the benchmark, and leadership costs also being significantly higher than the recommended percentage of income.

Schools were warned that a significant risk was that none of the submitted licensed-deficit plans returned schools to balance within the required three-to-five-year period. This has necessitated additional work with headteachers and school business managers to identify savings and produce compliant recovery plans. A detailed session for maintained headteachers was scheduled for 15th October to discuss these issues further.

SEN Sufficiency

The Forum received an update on the specialist place sufficiency for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Leicestershire currently has approximately 2,700 specialist places across its 9 area special schools and 37 resource provisions, units, and specialist bases. Over the last five academic years, more than 600 new places have been created, but demand continues to exceed capacity, with all area special schools operating over capacity and most smaller provisions being full.

The number of Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) numbers had risen by approximately 22.5% between January 2025 and January 2026. While improved completion rates for EHCPs have accelerated the identification of need, this has also increased the number of pupils waiting for places. All pupils on the waiting list are receiving discrete educational provision.

A new 252-place area special school at Husbands Bosworth is planned for September 2028, with further unit places and special school places planned for the coming years. However, officers cautioned that current capital funding is insufficient to create places at the required pace, making future Department for Education (DfE) allocations critical. Members requested a more detailed breakdown of the total cost of independent specialist placements and their contribution to the high-needs deficit.

Concerns were raised about young people and families waiting for years, with inconsistent messages about placement routes and administrative delays. The authority is working to improve response times by increasing SEND Assessment and Support (SENA) capacity and streamlining processes. The development of a waiting well offer is intended to support children and families where specialist places are not immediately available.

SEN Investment Fund

The Head of Service Education Inclusion reported that the full SEN Investment Fund had been allocated or committed. The fund supported various initiatives, including outreach programmes, alternative provision pilots, and educational psychology consultations. Early evidence indicated positive impacts on staff confidence and access to support. An underspend had arisen due to lower-than-assumed training uptake, and officers proposed retaining the balance for collective benefit, including funding for assistant educational psychologists and supply teaching assistants. Members questioned whether the fund had reduced EHCP demand, with officers advising that national reform expectations had increased applications, making direct comparison difficult.

Any Other Business

Members inquired about modelling for the potential school budget effects of Local Government Reorganisation and boundary changes. Officers confirmed that no modelling was currently available due to uncertainties surrounding successor authorities and funding arrangements. The matter will be revisited once clearer guidance is provided by central government.

An indicative update was also given on expanded free school meals eligibility. The summer 2026 census indicated a significant increase in eligible pupils under the expanded tier, which could create substantial pressures on catering, staffing, and food costs without a corresponding increase in pupil premium funding. The impact of the FSM Expansion Grant will become clearer once national data is finalised.

The next meeting of the Leicestershire Schools' Forum was scheduled for Thursday 5th November 2026.