The Schools Forum of Wiltshire Council met on Thursday 11 June 2026 to discuss the transfer of funding between school blocks, the draft Local SEND Reform Plan for Wiltshire, and updates from working groups. The meeting also covered the closure of the Safety Valve Programme and confirmed future meeting dates.

Transfer of Funding from Schools Block to High Needs Block 2027/28

A report was presented outlining options for a potential transfer of funding from the schools block to the high needs block for the 2027/28 financial year. Historically, Wiltshire has agreed to such transfers with the approval of the Schools Forum. For 2026/27, a transfer of £1.000m, or 0.25%, was agreed. The report highlighted that the high needs block overspend in Wiltshire has continued to increase, with a provisional cumulative deficit of £86.384m at the end of the 2025/26 financial year.

The context for the 2027/28 financial year includes changes to how Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficits will be managed, with a new High Needs Stability Grant set to write off 90% of deficits accrued by 31 March 2026. However, a contribution towards the deficit will still be required. The Safety Valve Programme is also ceasing from 31 March 2026. Furthermore, the Schools White Paper mandates the development of a Local SEND Reform Plan, which will focus on meeting needs within mainstream schools.

Two options were presented for consideration:

• Option 1: Agree not to consult with schools on a block transfer proposal. This option would align with the views expressed by schools in the 2026/27 consultation and would have no financial impact on schools block funding for mainstream schools. It also recognises the focus on meeting needs within mainstream schools as part of the SEND reforms. However, it would mean the council continues to manage the residual deficit, and the principle of an affordable block transfer previously agreed by Wiltshire schools might be lost.
• Option 2: Agree to consult with schools on a level of transfer that is affordable without impacting on National Funding Formula (NFF) rates. This would have no financial impact on individual school budgets and would retain the principle of an affordable block transfer that shares the risk of the high needs deficit. However, this proposal would be at risk and subject to government guidance.

The report recommended that the Council should not consult with schools on a block transfer for 2027/28, proposing that the Schools Forum agree not to consult on a block transfer for that year.

Draft Local SEND Reform Plan for Wiltshire

Ben Stevens, Inclusion, SEND and Alternative Provision Lead, presented an overview of the draft Wiltshire SEND Reform Plan, which Schools Forum was asked to approve for submission to the Secretary of State. The plan outlines a journey towards transforming education for all children, with key shifts including moving from Narrow to Broad, Sidelined to Included, and Withdrawn to Engaging. The government's expectations for impact and delivery commitments by the end of the current parliament, alongside national funding commitments, were summarised.

The plan details proposed reforms including new levels of support, expectations around Individual Support Plans, the Experts at Hand offer, and future statutory arrangements for specialist provision and Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) processes, which are set to transition from September 2029. The national implementation timeline indicates that local authorities were required to submit a Local SEND Reform Plan by 19 June 2026. Wiltshire had engaged in a programme of engagement with schools, education settings, parents/carers, and other stakeholders. The importance of producing a high-quality plan was emphasised, both for supporting children and young people in Wiltshire and for securing future national High Needs Stability Grant funding.

A briefing note was also provided regarding updated Department for Education (DfE) guidance on the Experts at Hand offer, published on 5 June 2026. This guidance moves the programme into delivery from September 2026, introduces minimum national expectations for the first year, and provides a more prescriptive definition of how the offer must operate. The new guidance narrows the definition of the core Experts at Hand offer, particularly limiting the workforce that can be funded through the grant to speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists, and specialist teachers. This represents a significant reduction in local flexibility compared to earlier guidance. Wiltshire's original model, which was co-designed with schools and parent carers and reflected the local workforce, included a broader multidisciplinary offer. The plan will need to be revised to align with the newly published guidance and grant conditions.

Updates from Working Groups

The Forum was scheduled to note the minutes and updates from the Early Years Reference Group meeting held on 21 May 2026. This meeting focused on determining an equitable and practical approach to distributing a new government inclusion fund to early years providers. Discussion centred on funding parameters, national guidance, and modelling options to maximise impact. Key updates included an estimated allocation of £335,000 for the Inclusive early years fund for 2026 to 2027, based on £57.12 per part-time equivalent child. Three distribution models were presented, with a modified tiered approach being favoured. The use of funding for inclusion-related activity such as training, workforce development, and environmental adaptations was confirmed, with no requirement for detailed receipts. Collaboration between settings to access higher-value training was also discussed.

Closure of the Safety Valve Programme

Liz Williams, Finance Lead – High Needs Block Sustainability, provided an update on the government's approach to Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficits and the closure of the Safety Valve Programme. The report detailed how the High Needs Sustainability Grant would be calculated for local authorities participating in the Safety Valve Programme, taking into account payments made to date. Grant allocations were conditional on the approval of the Local SEND Reform Plan. While no details had been received on potential support for deficits accrued in 2026/27 or 2027/28, the government indicated a proportionate approach would be taken. The report concluded by noting that while the new grant was welcome, the High Needs Block continued to present a significant financial risk and uncertainty.

During the discussion, concerns were raised that the closure of the Safety Valve Programme created immediate pressure rather than the longer-term timeframe originally planned for deficit recovery. Officers acknowledged that recent changes might require adjustments to the sequencing, pace, or prioritisation of planned activity. Queries were also raised regarding the potential for a surge in parental requests for EHCPs, with concerns that reforms might result in fewer issued plans, alongside increased parent enquiries and tribunal activity. Officers emphasised that effective communication and early implementation of the Local SEND Reform Plan would be crucial in managing expectations and demand.

Confirmation of Dates for Future Meetings

The dates for future Schools Forum meetings were confirmed as: 8 October 2026 (virtual via Teams), 10 December 2026 (face to face, County Hall, Trowbridge), 21 January 2027 (face to face, County Hall, Trowbridge), and 18 March 2027 (virtual via Teams).

The meeting was scheduled to be held via Microsoft Teams. The agenda also included standard items such as noting apologies, approving minutes of the previous meeting, chair's announcements, and declarations of interest. Provisions for public participation, including statements and questions, were also outlined. The meeting was scheduled to consider urgent items and the exclusion of press and public for specific business related to financial or business affairs.