Agenda item

This report provides an update on Schools Block to High Needs Block Disapplication request.

Peter Haylock (Director of Education and SEND) presented the report on the disapplication request for 2026/27 to support mitigating the High Needs Block (HNB) budget pressures over the medium term. He highlighted the following key points:

·       The number of plans had increased to 1840.

·       Last SEN2 was a 5% increase compared to a 11% increase nationally.

·       79% of new plans were for children aged up to 10.

·       The grant allocation did not fully account for the inflationary pressures across the SEND sector, mainstream, special and independent.

·       Lower than originally forecasted forecast HNB funding than originally modelled per DfE advice up to approx. £1.5mil

·       Overall structural deficit of £2.6 mil at 2024/25 closing balance.

·       Outlined the actions to mitigate this and support the delivery as the area was facing budget challenges.

Michele Barrett (Randolph Beresford / Vanessa Nursery) asked whether a cost analysis of the early year’s intervention programme was available. Peter Haylock explained that, while a formal cost analysis had not yet been produced, current indicators suggested that the programme was having a positive impact. For example, our applications for renewing EHC Plans were 5–6% lower than the national average, which indicated the effectiveness of early intervention work.

He noted that the Council remained committed to delivering these interventions but faced challenges in quantifying their full impact due to other mitigating factors. What was clear, however, was that additional investment in early intervention would be critical to achieving even greater outcomes.

Satwinder Saraon (Head of SEND Services and Early Years) added that programme data showed clear impact when children received specialist intervention within an early year setting for two terms, most no longer required this support afterward. This demonstrated the effectiveness of targeted early intervention.

Alex Parker (Observer) asked about the HNB budget and whether the budget could be reviewed as a whole, assess sector performance against it, and understand how income and expenditure were being balanced.

The Chair noted that this remained a national challenge due to the nature of the SEND provision and the increasing number of EHCPs that must be funded by Local Authorities.

Jacqui McShannon (Director of Children’s Services) highlighted that, since joining the Council, had been mitigated around £5m through the Safety Valve programme. She stressed that the Council received significantly less funding compared to other Local Authorities, which continued to be a major challenge. However, substantial work had been undertaken to prevent the gap from widening while still meeting the needs of children.

Tony Burton (Head of Finance for Children’s Services and Education)

added that the Council was awaiting the Government’s Schools White Paper on SEND reform, originally expected in Autumn 2025 but now delayed until Spring 2026. This would provide clarity on the national direction of travel. He also noted that the Council currently had no indication of funding levels for the Dedicated Schools Grant for High Needs, mainstream and early years settings from April 2026. This information was expected in late December 2025.

Members discussed the disapplication proposal and unanimously agreed the recommendation in the report

RESOLVED:

The Schools Forum approved the Schools Block to High Needs Block Transfer Disapplication Request.