The Ealing Schools Forum meeting scheduled for Thursday, 22 January 2026, was set to discuss the crucial topic of school funding for the 2026-27 academic year. The report pack provided to attendees outlined detailed proposals for the Early Years Block, Schools Block, High Needs Block, and Central School Services Block, alongside considerations for school balances and the implications of the Equality Act 2010.

School Funding 2026-27

The primary focus of the meeting was the comprehensive report on school funding for the 2026-27 financial year. This report detailed the proposed allocations for the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), which is divided into four blocks: Schools (SB), Early Years (EY), High Needs (HN), and Central School Services (CSSB).

Within the Early Years Block, discussions were scheduled to cover the proposed funding formula, including rates for different age groups and offers, as well as the allocation of supplementary funding for deprivation and quality. The report pack indicated a proposal to retain 3% of the Early Years Block for central services, a reduction from the previous year. Consultation feedback on these proposals was to be presented.

For the Schools Block, the agenda included a review of the indicative allocations and proposed funding formula factors for 2026-27. The report highlighted that the National Insurance Contribution Grant and the School Budget Support Grant would be integrated into the main funding formula. A significant point of discussion was the affordability gap arising from the lag in government funding allocations and the increase in pupils eligible for free school meals. The report outlined proposed adjustments to the Age Weighted Pupil Unit (AWPU) and other factors to address this gap. The Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG), which protects schools from significant per-pupil funding reductions, was also to be considered, with a proposal to maintain it at -0.5%.

Discussions were also scheduled regarding Education Functions for maintained schools and the de-delegation of funding for specific services to maintained schools. The report detailed the proposed budget allocations for these areas, taking into account the potential conversion of some Catholic primary schools to academy status.

The Central School Services Block (CSSB) was to be reviewed, with proposed adjustments to line-by-line allocations. The report indicated a slight increase in the CSSB per pupil rate for 2026-27.

Regarding the High Needs Block, the report noted the provisional allocation for 2026-27, which included the integration of previously separate grant allocations. The forum was to be updated on the Ealing Additional and Special Educational Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion strategy and the DSG management plan. A previous transfer of 0.5% from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block was to be continued, following reports of an in-year projected overspend on the High Needs block for 2025-26.

Finally, the meeting was to address the Balance Control Mechanism and forecasted school balances. The report indicated that nineteen maintained schools were forecasting a deficit by the end of the 2025-26 academic year, an increase from the previous year.

The meeting also included standard agenda items such as noting apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and approving the minutes of the previous meeting held on 20 November 2025. The current membership of the Ealing Schools' Forum was also to be noted.