The Schools Forum meeting included a presentation about the arrangements for school funding in 2025-26, and a consultation on the Central Schools Services Block in 2025-26. The forum was also due to discuss a proposal for Shropshire Council to centrally retain the Dedicated Schools Grant from April 2025.

Schools Funding 2025-26

A presentation was scheduled to be given to the forum titled Schools Funding Arrangements 2025-26 (Paper B).

Central Retention of DSG from April 2025

The meeting was scheduled to include a consultation on the proposal that, from April 2025, Shropshire Council will retain the Dedicated Schools Grant centrally (Paper C).

The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) is a grant that the government provides to local authorities to cover the costs of education in state-funded schools.

The purpose of this letter is to consult Schools Forum on Shropshire Council’s proposal to centrally retain its Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) from April 2025.

Central Schools Services Block 2025-26

The forum was scheduled to receive an update on the position of the Central Schools Services Block (CSSB) in 2025-26 (Paper D).

The CSSB is a ring-fenced grant that forms part of the Dedicated Schools Grant and is used to fund centrally provided services, including:

• School Admissions
• Services commissioned from the Virtual School Headteacher
• Attendance and Welfare
• Services provided by the Education Inclusion Service
• Educational Psychology Services
• Early Years SEN moderation
• Elements of the Music Education Hub