Purpose

To consider the Dedicated Schools Grant budget
proposals 2025/26. This report will subsequently be submitted to
Full Council as part of the budget process.

Content

The Committee RESOLVED (6 members voting in
favour, none against and with 3 abstentions):
 
To recommend the following proposals to Full
Council:
 
A. To approve the 2025/26 DSG Budget:
 
1. Schools Block (detail in appendix
A3):
 
a. The Schools Block budget be set at
£368.274 million for 2025/26 as per Table 1.
 
b. £1.851 million of the overall Schools
Block DSG is transferred to the High Needs Block.
 
c. The basis for distributing the funding to
mainstream schools be as set out and agreed by Schools Forum
(Appendix A3).
 
d. The Growth Fund for established schools
expanding in September 2025 be set at £1.0 million (a
component of the total Schools Block) or as agreed by Schools
Forum.
 
2. Central School Services Block
(detail in appendix A2):
 
a. Following Schools Forum agreement, approve
the Central School Services Block budget is set at £2.733
million for 2025/26.
 
3. High Needs Block (detail in appendix
A2):
 
a. Approve the High Needs Block budget be set
at £97.624 million for 2025/26 as per Appendix A2, after
receiving transfers of £1.851 million from Schools Block.
 
4. Early Years Block (detail in
appendix A2):
 
a. Approve the Early Years Block budget be set
at £79.154 million for 2025/26, noting that spend and DSG
income will fluctuate, according to participation levels in each of
the three school terms.
 
b) Approve that funding for Early Years should
be distributed in line with the arrangements explained in the
report to Schools Forum (Appendix A2).
 
B. To note:
 
a. The 2025/26 DSG Allocation of
£547.785 million.
 
b. That the forecast DSG expenditure in
2025/26 is £574.255 million, with a forecast accumulated
deficit of £58.568 million.
 
c. Bristol Schools forum feedback on the
2025/26 DSG Budget.