The Children's, Young Person & 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 significant deficit in the High Needs Block of the DSG and discussed strategies to address it, while also reviewing the framework for school admissions and the implementation of a new admissions system.

Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Allocation

The committee received a presentation on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) High Needs Block, highlighting a developing deficit position for 2025-26. The 2024-25 High Needs Block already had a deficit outside the funding envelope, and current forecasts indicate an additional pressure of £6.293 million, increasing the overall deficit. Pressures have been identified across several provision types, including mainstream top-up funding, alternative provision (particularly personalised packages), independent provision, and special schools and specialist units.

Mainstream top-up funding, which is allocated to mainstream settings for children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), has seen a doubling in the number of children requiring it over the last three years. The average funding for a mainstream top-up is £7,000. Supporting mainstream schools to meet higher needs is intended to reduce pressure on specialist placement budgets, which are forecast to face a £615,000 pressure.

The budget for alternative provision, which covers pupils with or without an EHCP who lack a school place due to exclusion or for whom local specialist provision is unavailable, also includes therapies for children and young people with an EHCP. A forecast pressure of £2.6 million exists, with a risk of costs increasing due to rising demand from exclusions and EHCP-related needs. North Northamptonshire Council has limited access to local specialist provision 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 will 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, conduct a desktop review of processes, governance, and expenditure, and undertake deep dives into SEND practice. A three-year Local SEND Reform Plan is required by 19 June 2026, and the grant application is contingent on demonstrating robust planning, metrics, and improvement activity.

Members raised concerns regarding the prioritisation of stabilising the deficit trajectory, 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 nature of the 90% High Needs Stability Grant, its national cap, and the necessity of managing demand drivers, early intervention, mainstream inclusion, and parental confidence. Enquiries were also made regarding school capacity, class sizes, the ability to meet increasing needs, and the Early Years underspend, stressing the need for improved communication to ensure appropriate uptake of funding. Following the debate, the committee noted and considered the report and its appendices, with comments and concerns being fed back to officers.

Pupil Place Planning

The School Admissions Manager presented an overview of the statutory framework governing school admissions. The School Admissions Code outlines mandatory responsibilities and statutory guidance for local authorities, maintained schools, governing bodies, Schools Adjudicators, and admission appeals panels. Academies are required to comply with the Code and admissions law through their funding agreements. North Northamptonshire Council acts as the admission authority for 21 primary schools (community and voluntary controlled) within the region.

In 2026, 96.58% of applicants received one of their three preferred school places, an increase from the previous year. Notably, 99% of all school place applications were completed online. The committee heard that while local authorities are no longer required to coordinate in-year admissions since 2010, North Northamptonshire Council continues to do so for safeguarding assurance. In-year applications, which had been rising for a decade, have declined 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, and welcomed future updates on the new admissions system, Synergy. They also reaffirmed the council's commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant in relation to school admissions for families in the armed forces. Following the debate, the committee resolved to request an update on the implementation, effectiveness, and impact of the new Synergy software at a future meeting.