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, and updates from working groups. The meeting also covered the closure of the Safety Valve Programme and the implications of new Department for Education guidance on the Experts at Hand offer.

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

The Schools Forum was scheduled to consider options for transferring funding from the schools block to the high needs block for the 2027/28 financial year. Historically, Wiltshire has agreed to such transfers, with a £1.000m (0.25%) transfer agreed for 2026/27. However, the high needs block deficit in Wiltshire has continued to grow, reaching an estimated £86.384m by the end of the 2025/26 financial year.

Several government changes were noted as context for the 2027/28 decision:

• Changes to DSG Deficit Management: A new High Needs Stability Grant will write off 90% of deficits accrued up to 31 March 2026, though future support arrangements are yet to be confirmed.
• Cessation of the Safety Valve Programme: This programme, which had assumed a 1% transfer from the schools block, will end on 31 March 2026.
• Schools White Paper: The SEND Reforms outlined in the White Paper necessitate the development of a Local SEND Reform Plan.
• DfE Guidance: Guidance on block transfers for 2027/28 had not yet been issued, creating uncertainty.

Two options were presented for consideration:

• Option 1: Agree not to consult with schools on a block transfer proposal. This would align with the views expressed by schools in the 2026/27 consultation and would have no financial impact on the schools block. However, it would leave the council to manage the residual deficit and could mean losing the principle of an affordable block transfer previously agreed by Wiltshire schools.
• 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, sharing the risk of the high needs deficit. However, this proposal would be 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 this matter.

Draft Local SEND Reform Plan for Wiltshire

The Schools Forum was scheduled to consider the draft Wiltshire SEND Reform Plan, which was to be approved for submission to the Secretary of State. Ben Stevens, Inclusion, SEND and Alternative Provision Lead, was due to present an overview of the plan.

The reform journey outlined in the papers indicated a phased approach, with co-design in March-April 2026, the first SEND Reform Plan due in June 2026, and the new system transitioning by September 2029. The plan aimed to achieve earlier, more inclusive support, establish an Experts at Hand offer, ensure sufficiency and local provision, and foster stronger partnership and co-production.

Key challenges identified included:

• Earlier, more inclusive support: Variation in inclusive practice between schools, lack of clarity on expectations, and stretched SENCO capacity were noted. The plan proposed a clear 3-tier system: everyday support, targeted expert input, and specialist provision, with schools as leaders of inclusion.
• Experts at Hand: The plan aimed to provide earlier access to specialist advice through a single model, focusing on consultation, coaching, and modelling. However, updated DfE guidance issued on 5 June 2026 introduced a more prescriptive definition of the Experts at Hand offer, narrowing the eligible workforce to speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists, and specialist teachers. This represented a significant reduction in local flexibility and meant Wiltshire's original model, which included a broader multidisciplinary offer, would need revision.
• Sufficiency and local provision: The plan sought to increase local specialist places and reduce reliance on high-cost, out-of-area placements. This would involve developing inclusion bases and a clearer continuum of provision, including continued investment in special schools and specialist bases.
• Partnership and co-production: The plan aimed for stronger partnership governance, embedded co-production expectations, and integrated data and decision-making across education, health, and care.

The report highlighted that the Local SEND Reform Plan is a live document and that following submission on 19 June 2026, local areas should refine their workforce plans to align with the newly published Experts at Hand grant conditions and guidance.

Updates from Working Groups

The Forum was scheduled to note minutes and updates from the Early Years Reference Group meeting held on 21 May 2026. This meeting focused on distributing a new government inclusion fund to early years providers. Discussions centred on funding parameters, national guidance, and modelling options to maximise impact. Three distribution models were considered: a per-child allocation, a flat rate per setting, and a size-based affordability model. The group leaned towards a modified third approach, with a tiered structure being modelled to ensure fairness and usability.

Closure of the Safety Valve Programme

Liz Williams, Finance Lead – High Needs Block Sustainability, was scheduled to update the Schools Forum on the government's approach to Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficits and the closure of the Safety Valve Programme. The report outlined how the High Needs Sustainability Grant would be calculated for local authorities that were part of the Safety Valve Programme, with allocations conditional on the approval of the Local SEND Reform Plan. It was noted that no details had been received regarding potential support for deficits accrued in 2026/27 or 2027/28. The report concluded that while the new grant was welcome, the High Needs Block continued to present a significant financial risk and uncertainty.

Other Items

The meeting also included standard agenda items such as noting apologies, approving minutes of the previous meeting, chair's announcements, and declarations of interest. Public participation was also scheduled, with provisions for statements and questions from members of the public. The confirmation of dates for future meetings was also on the agenda. An item regarding the exclusion of the press and public was listed, relating to confidential details of the draft Local SEND Reform Plan.