The Children's, Young Persons & Education Scrutiny Committee of North Northamptonshire Council met on Thursday 19 March 2026 to discuss the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Allocation and Pupil Place Planning. The committee noted the contents of the report on the DSG allocation and raised comments for officers, and requested an update on the implementation of new Synergy software for pupil place planning.

Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Allocation

The committee received a presentation on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and the developing deficit position for the High Needs Block in 2025-26. It was reported that the 2024-25 High Needs Block already had a deficit, and an additional pressure of £6.293m was forecast, increasing the overall deficit. Pressures were identified across various provision types, including mainstream top-up funding, alternative provision, independent provision, and special schools.

Mainstream top-up funding, which is allocated to mainstream schools for children with an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP), has seen a doubling in the number of children requiring it over the last three years. The average funding level for these top-ups is £7,000. The report highlighted that supporting mainstream schools to meet higher needs reduces pressure on specialist placement budgets, with a forecast pressure of £615k in this area.

The budget for alternative provision, which covers pupils with or without an EHCP who do not have a school place due to exclusion or for children with EHCPs where local specialist provision is unavailable, also faces significant pressure. This includes therapies for children and young people with an EHCP. A forecast pressure of £2.6m was noted, with a risk of costs rising due to increasing demand from exclusions and children with EHCPs. North Northamptonshire Council has limited access to local specialist and alternative provision places. While plans are in place to develop eight units attached to mainstream schools, these are not expected to fully mitigate the identified need or reduce demand.

An underspend in Early Years High Needs Funding was noted and would be reviewed. An update was also provided on national SEND reforms and the associated High Needs Stability Grant, which offers up to 90% of the accumulated deficit, subject to the approval of a Local SEND Reform Plan. Officers are working with the Department for Education (DfE) advisors to complete a Local Area Maturity Matrix and conduct reviews of processes, governance, and expenditure. A three-year Local SEND Reform Plan is required by 19 June 2026, with the grant application dependent on demonstrating robust planning and improvement activity.

Members raised concerns regarding the prioritisation for stabilising the deficit, metrics for measuring improvement, reliance on independent provision, capacity issues in maintained special schools, and the need for detailed benchmarking. Questions were also raised about the national cap on the 90% High Needs Stability Grant and the need to manage demand drivers, early intervention, mainstream inclusion, and parental confidence. Enquiries were also made regarding school capacity, class sizes, and the ability to meet increasing needs, as well as the Early Years underspend and the need for improved communication to ensure appropriate uptake of funding.

Following the debate, the committee noted and considered the report, raising comments and concerns for officers as part of the scrutiny procedure.

Pupil Place Planning

The School Admissions Manager presented an overview of the statutory framework governing school admissions. This framework, outlined in the School Admissions Code, details mandatory responsibilities for local authorities and school admission authorities. North Northamptonshire Council acts as the admission authority for 21 community and voluntary controlled primary schools.

The committee noted that 96.58% of applicants received one of their three preferred school places in 2026, an increase from the previous year. The majority of applications, 99%, were completed online. The report also highlighted that while local authorities are no longer required to coordinate in-year admissions, North Northamptonshire Council continues to do so for safeguarding assurance. In-year applications have seen a decline in the last two years, potentially due to migration patterns, parental awareness of capacity constraints, and increased stability in school placements.

Members raised questions regarding the consistency of admission criteria across the 21 schools, the impact of falling birth rates on the viability of rural schools, and specific considerations for Armed Forces families and safeguarding. Officers confirmed ongoing liaison with school leaders, regular capacity monitoring, and reporting. They also reaffirmed the council's commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant in relation to school admissions.

The committee resolved to request that officers provide an update at a future meeting on the implementation, effectiveness, and impact of the new Synergy software, which is being used for admissions.