The Wiltshire Schools Forum met on Thursday 26 March 2026 to discuss significant reforms to the schools and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) systems, and to approve the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget for the 2026-27 financial year. Key decisions included the allocation of funding across the Schools, Central Schools Services, High Needs, and Early Years blocks, as well as the transfer of funds from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block.

Schools White Paper and SEND Reform

The Schools Forum received an update on the government's recently published Schools' White Paper, 'Every Child Achieving and Thriving', and the SEND reform consultation, 'Putting Children and Young People First'. The White Paper outlines three key shifts: moving from a narrow to a broad curriculum, ensuring all children are included and supported, and fostering engagement through a sense of safety and connection. The reforms aim to improve outcomes in early years, key stages 1 and 2, and key stage 4, with a particular focus on disadvantaged children and those with SEND.

The SEND reforms aim to embed inclusion in mainstream education settings through a stronger universal offer. Significant national funding commitments have been announced, including £1.6 billion for an Inclusive Mainstream Fund, £1.8 billion for Experts at Hand funding, and £3.7 billion for High-Needs Capital Funding. All schools will be required to produce an Inclusion Strategy and digital Individual Support Plans (ISPs) for children with SEND. Local areas are tasked with establishing an 'Experts at Hand' offer to improve access to health professionals. The government plans to address long-standing SEND financial pressures by covering approximately 90% of local authorities' High Needs-related DSG deficits accrued up to the end of 2025–26 through a High Needs Stability Grant, contingent on the approval of a Local SEND Reform Plan. The consultation on these reforms closes on 18 May 2026, and Wiltshire stakeholders are encouraged to engage. The national implementation timeline is phased, with full reform implementation expected from AY 2028/9 onwards.

Children's Transformation Governance Arrangements

The Schools Forum was provided with an overview of Wiltshire's new integrated governance arrangements for children's transformation. This new model aims to bring together all major programmes affecting children and young people aged 0-25, including the Best Start in Life initiative, Families First Partnership, Schools White Paper reforms, SEND Reform, National Youth Strategy, and Post-16 Education and Skills Reform. This unified approach is intended to reduce duplication, siloed decision-making, and improve system-wide accountability. The Families and Children's Transformation (FACT) Executive Board and FACT Operational Board will provide strategic oversight. Schools are identified as key partners, with representation sought for the FACT Operational Board to ensure their insights shape the reforms. The new structure aims to provide schools with a simpler, clearer system, stronger support for inclusion, better transitions, and more coordinated multi-agency support.

Closure of the Safety Valve Programme

The Schools Forum received an update on the government's approach to Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficits and the closure of the Safety Valve Programme. From April 2026, the Safety Valve Programme will be replaced by a new High Needs Stability Grant, which will cover 90% of local authorities' High Needs-related DSG deficits accrued up to the end of 2025–26. This grant will only be paid once a Local SEND Reform Plan has been developed and approved by the Department for Education (DfE). The report highlighted that Wiltshire's estimated High Needs Stability Grant is approximately £92.2 million, which will partially offset the forecast £106.9 million deficit, leaving a balance of approximately £15 million for the council to fund. The Statutory Override, which prevents DSG deficits from affecting local authorities' wider financial positions, will remain in place until March 2028. The report noted that details on potential support for deficits arising in 2026/27 and 2027/28 are yet to be confirmed.

School Budget Decisions 2026-27

The Schools Forum made several key decisions regarding the 2026-27 school budget. The overall Schools Budget was agreed at £646,781,423. This included mirroring the National Funding Formula (NFF) for the Schools Block, setting the Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) at 0.0%, and agreeing the Growth Fund at £0.857m. A transfer of 0.25% (£1m) from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block was confirmed as affordable. Budgets for de-delegation of central services were also noted.

For the Central School Services Block, the budget for Central Copyright Licenses was set at £615,200. Expenditure for ongoing responsibilities and historic commitments was agreed, including significant allocations for the Education Welfare Service, Statutory/Regulatory Duties, and Admissions.

In the High Needs Block, the Forum noted the assumptions and mitigating actions within the High Needs Sustainability Plan. The MFG uplift for Special Schools was set at 0.0%, and Top-Up rates for Special Schools, Resource Bases, Enhanced Learning Provisions (ELPs), and Named Pupil Allowances (NPAs) were agreed to increase by 2.2%.

For the Early Years Block, provider rates for entitled children were set, with under 2-year-olds receiving £10.52 per hour, 2-year-olds £7.85, and 3 and 4-year-olds £6.03. The Disability Access Fund was set at up to £975 per child, and the Pupil Premium uplift at £1.15 per hour. The Central Early Years' Teams budget was set at £0.977m, and the Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund budget at £1.677m. Deprivation and rurality funding was increased to £275,000, and at least 97% of funding will be passed through to providers.

Updates from Working Groups

The Schools Forum noted updates from the Early Years Reference Group meeting on 17 March 2026 and the joint meeting of the School Funding Working Group and SEN Working Group on 18 March 2026. The Early Years Reference Group discussed finalised funding rates, the Best Start in Life plan, and the Inclusion Support Fund (ISF) review, which has been paused due to potential national changes. Concerns were raised regarding the Disability Access Fund (DAF) allocation for children attending multiple settings and the need for clearer wording on parent declaration forms. The School Funding and SEN Working Group discussed the Schools White Paper and SEND Reform, noting that national funding commitments have been made but local allocations are yet to be detailed. They also discussed the closure of the Safety Valve Programme and the new High Needs Stability Grant.

Public Participation

Two questions were submitted by John Read, Headteacher at Lyneham Primary School. The first question concerned the co-design of the SEND reform plan, with the response indicating that the deadline for Wiltshire's plan is 19 June 2026 and that schools, parent carers, and young people will be invited to participate in the co-design process after Easter. The second question related to the projected £63m in-year deficit for the High Needs Block, asking about the driving factors and assumptions. The response detailed that the deficit is driven by increased demand and updated unit costs, with savings built into the budget from the High Needs Sustainability Plan. It was noted that local redistribution, such as Schools Block transfers, would not significantly address this level of pressure.