The Schools' Forum of Northumberland Council was scheduled to discuss the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the 2026/27 academic year, including proposed allocations across various blocks. The meeting was also set to review the work programme and meeting dates for the upcoming year.

Setting the 2026/27 Dedicated Schools Grant

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the setting of the 2026/27 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). The report pack outlined the estimated overall DSG for the year, as notified by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), and proposed how these funds would be allocated across four key blocks: Schools Block, High Needs Block, Early Years Block, and Central Schools Services Block (CSSB).

The report indicated that Northumberland was continuing to mirror the National Funding Formula (NFF), aiming to be within 2.5% of NFF values. For 2026/27, the gap had narrowed to approximately 0.5%.

Schools Block: The report detailed the proposed formula funding values for the Schools Block, which would apply to both maintained schools and academies. A recommendation was made to agree the use of up to £66,010 from the Growth Fund to support additional places at Seaton Valley High School from September 2026. The report also noted falling pupil numbers as a key feature impacting the Northumberland Schools Block, with a further decrease of 529 pupils identified in the October 2025 school census.

High Needs Block: The proposed budget for the High Needs Block was set at £60,591,038, which included a transfer of £1,271,296 from the Schools Block. The report highlighted that the continuing increase in the number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) was the biggest challenge to balancing this budget. It was noted that the use of the high needs national funding formula was suspended for 2026/27, with allocations calculated based on 2025/26 figures plus additional funding for grants. A savings requirement of £6,825,682 was also identified within this block.

Early Years Block: The report presented the proposed hourly rates for the Early Years Block for 2026/27. These included increases for 3-4-year-olds, 2-year-olds, and under 2-year-olds, along with proposed rates for the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) and the Disability Access Fund (DAF). The report indicated an overall average increase of 5.17% in early years funding for 2026/27.

Central Schools Services Block (CSSB): The CSSB allocation for 2026/27 was proposed at £2,368,365, an increase from the previous year. This block funds ongoing statutory responsibilities and historic commitments. The report noted that the historic funding element was less than the estimated actual commitment, and representations had been made to the Department for Education regarding this shortfall.

2026 Work Programme and Meeting Dates

The Schools' Forum was scheduled to review its work programme and meeting dates for 2026. The document outlined planned meetings for the Schools Forum, including discussions on the Dedicated Schools Grant, National Funding Formula updates, and SEND updates. It also indicated that dates for the High Needs Committee and Funding Formula Committee were to be confirmed.

Communications

The meeting was scheduled to receive communications, including a statement from f40, an organisation campaigning on behalf of local authorities receiving low levels of education funding, welcoming the government's write-off of £5 billion in local authority SEND deficits. Draft minutes from the High Needs Committee meeting on 12 December 2025 were also to be presented.