The Kingston upon Thames Schools Forum met on Monday 17 November 2025 to discuss significant financial updates and budget consultations for the upcoming academic years. Key discussions included a substantial in-year overspend in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), particularly within the High Needs Block, and the development of the 2026/27 budget. The forum also received updates on the High Needs Subgroup, including progress on the Cluster Model project and a verbal update on the subgroup's terms of reference.

Financial Overspend and Budget Consultation

The Schools Forum was presented with concerning financial data indicating a significant in-year overspend of £10.75 million in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the current financial year. The High Needs Block accounts for the majority of this overspend, totalling £11.05 million, with an additional £850,000 attributed to rising demand. This projected cumulative deficit of £19 million by the end of the financial year has been exacerbated by a £1.053 million increase in post-16 spending compared to the previous year, reaching over £8 million. Key drivers for this increase include new independent placements, higher costs for Other Local Authority Special placements, and a substantial rise in spending with Independent Specialist Providers (ISPs). While the number of placements with Personal Budgets is projected to decrease, the average cost per place has significantly increased.

Scott Gardner, Head of Finance at AfC¹, presented the financial position and noted that a detailed analysis of pre-16 pupil factors would be conducted to understand year-on-year spending increases. He also highlighted that there is no Safety Valve Agreement or additional council funding for the current financial year to address the deficit.

Discussions also touched upon the 2026/27 budget consultation report. While the reports were to follow as late material, the agenda indicated that this would be a key item for the forum's consideration. The forum was asked to consider four key areas for the Schools Forum meeting on 17 November 2025, which included the Kingston cluster funding model for the longer term, further education (FE) costs, the shortfall in therapies, and the complexities and funding implications of part-time timetables.

High Needs Subgroup and Cluster Model Project

The High Needs Subgroup has been actively addressing issues within the High Needs Block. A verbal update was provided on the subgroup's terms of reference, with Esther Brooks, CEO of Coombe Academy Trust and Chair of the Schools Forum, set to present recommendations to the Schools Forum. These recommendations focus on key areas affecting Kingston, particularly those with financial implications.

Significant progress was reported on the Cluster Model project, with strong commitment from Tina Harvey, Cluster Strategic Lead, and Rebecca Williamson, Senior Educational Psychologist at AfC. A key challenge identified is securing Year 2 funding for the project by January 2026, before the impact report is complete in summer 2026, to ensure continuity. Scott Gardner emphasised the urgency of discussing funding for a borough-wide cluster approach early in the new financial year. While £124,000 for Year 2 has been agreed in principle by the Schools Forum, a broader rollout will require substantially more funding and detailed planning for sustainable financial models. Sophie Cavanagh, CEO of Kingston Educational Trust and Head Teacher of TKA, expressed optimism about the rollout due to strong support from Headteachers and concurred on the necessity of a strategic approach to funding. It was suggested that a working group be established to report to the High Needs Subgroup and subsequently to the Schools Forum.

Therapies and SEND Banding

The High Needs Subgroup also discussed updates on therapies and SEND² banding. Chike Nnalue, Associate Director for SEND at AfC, presented an overview, highlighting an over-reliance on spot commissioning for post-16 mainstream college placements, inadequate inter-borough arrangements, numerous therapy-related appeals, and insufficient early advice for mainstream schools. Demand analysis revealed that special school places have increased without a corresponding rise in therapists.

The Section 75 agreement with the ICB³ covers the majority of therapy resources, but it has not kept pace with inflation, leading to Kingston Council significantly overspending. This is partly due to insufficient investment from the ICB, which is undergoing restructuring and attempting to withdraw funding for Section F provision in Kingston and Richmond. This poses a significant risk to the DSG and the High Needs Block, as current projections assume expected funding from the ICB.

The Therapy Task and Finish Group will address the current gaps in commissioned therapy services by quantifying expenditure related to these gaps to assess the feasibility of reinvestment. Strategies include quantifying spending on spot-commissioned provisions for reinvestment, improving early intervention models for SEN support through investment, and renegotiating local therapy arrangements with providers. Charis Penfold, Director for Education Services at AfC, proposed an early SALT model Communication Advisory and Support Service, drawing on a successful example from Enfield Local Authority. Esther Brooks supported this, noting that unaddressed Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) needs lead to higher costs overall and this model could integrate with the Cluster Pilot. CP and CN will present the early SALT model at the January 2026 meeting.

Regarding SEND banding, revised Service Level Agreements (SLAs) will be sent to schools before the October half-term. Discussions are underway to potentially phase out Alexandra Primary School's Specialist Resource Provision (SRP)⁴ and create a local Level 2 provision. Schools have been informed that the local authority will recommence commissioning therapies for SRPs. The annual review template is being updated to enhance information quality and streamline the process, with a planned rollout from autumn 2. Families have not raised specific challenges regarding banding following new assessments since September. The SEND team has been restructured into statutory assessment and EHCP⁵ coordinators, maintaining assessment timeliness and aiming to improve annual review quality and timeliness long-term. Schools can now access their annual review schedules via a platform, promoting consistency and linking directly to the banding process, as bands are determined by annual review and statutory assessment. Esther Brooks noted the importance of ensuring equity in banding decisions through the new process.

Alternative Provision and Part-Time Timetables

Chike Nnalue presented an overview of Alternative Provision (AP), noting that the demand for specialist provision is unsustainable, leading to children and young people being placed in AP. This information, which fluctuates daily, is confidential and will not be shared outside of the meeting. Esther Brooks inquired about how predictable demand from part-time timetables is being tracked, given its financial implications. Samantha Axbey, Head Teacher of Malden Oaks School and Tuition Service, emphasised that alternative provision is a broad term encompassing different types of provision, which can obscure the true picture.

Charis Penfold confirmed that data on part-time timetables is being collected, but a detailed analysis of the underlying reasons and potential double counting with AP figures is complex and has not yet been fully undertaken. Sophie Cavanagh stressed the importance of understanding this data, especially given Ofsted's interest in part-time timetables, and suggested it would be beneficial for schools and AfC to gain deeper insight. Ben Walsh, Principal of St Philip's School (Special School), advocated for a change in the narrative around part-time timetables, suggesting they can be a positive and creative solution for students who cannot manage a full-time schedule. Charis Penfold suggested that the next step should focus on revisiting shared principles for when part-time timetables are beneficial, rather than solely focusing on numbers, given the varied contexts and complexities. Chike Nnalue proposed that the topic of AP and school attendance for SEND children, which is part of the SEND Futures Workstream 1, could include a deep dive into part-time timetables and report findings back to the forum. CP and CN will revisit the shared principles of part-time timetables and conduct a deep dive in Workstream 1, reporting back to this subgroup.

Terms of Reference and Future Meetings

Esther Brooks initiated a discussion on the High Needs Subgroup's terms of reference, seeking clarity on its core purpose and to avoid duplication with other workstreams. Chike Nnalue suggested focusing on strategic workstreams with financial elements, particularly those affecting Kingston, and having a deep dive into a specific topic of expenditure in future meetings. It was decided that recommendations would be made to the Schools Forum to highlight key areas, thereby guiding this group's agenda. Four key topics were identified as suggestions for the Schools Forum to consider during their meeting on 17 November 2025: Kingston cluster funding model longer term, FE costs, the shortfall in therapy (and potential solutions), and part-time timetables (with their impact and complexities for potential funding implications and strategic provision). Esther Brooks will present these four areas to the Schools Forum for their consideration and will update the Terms of Reference, share them with the Subgroup, and submit them as part of the agenda pack for the Schools Forum on 17 November 2025.

The next meeting of the Schools Forum is scheduled for 26 January 2026 and will be a virtual meeting.