The Royal Borough of Greenwich Schools Forum was scheduled to meet to discuss the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), school balances, and a forward plan of reports for the upcoming year. The forum was also expected to appoint a chair and vice-chair for the period of 2025-2029. The meeting was scheduled to take place at the Town Hall, Wellington Street, Woolwich.

2024-25 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Outturn Position

The Schools Forum was asked to note the outturn position of the 2024-25 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). The projected outturn position as of 31 March 2025, was a deficit of £8.87m.

The report pack broke down the figures:

• The Schools Block had an underspend of £0.51m.
• The Central Block had an overspend of £0.63m.
• The High Needs Block had an overspend of £11.47m.
• The Early Years Block had an underspend of £2.43m.

The report pack stated that the main area of overspend was within independent school placements, historical top up costs for pupils attending all schools, and alternative provision. It also noted that there had been a 10% increase in the banding rates from September 2024, and additional funding for SEN Support¹ was launched in 2024-25 with a funding allocation of £2m.

The report pack stated that there were a number of new initiatives planned within the High Needs Block which would take place over the short to medium term and should decrease the need for use of independent places and out of borough provisions. These included new Local Authority Resource Provisions (LARPs) at Fossdene, Greenacres and Woodhill, a new secondary LARP at Woolwich Polytechnic Boys De Lucy site, a new all through special school at Rowan Wood, King's Park expansion, Willow Dene secondary phase expansion and a post 19 expansion at Bexley Road.

The report pack stated that the underspend in the Early Years Block could be due to lower than expected demand for places, demographic changes, or a change in attendance patterns.

The report pack noted that the accumulative DSG balance was a deficit of £8.87m inclusive of reserves and prior year adjustment for early years. It also noted that the deficit balance would need to be addressed, and the LA would have to submit a deficit recovery plan for the DSG, using the prescribed Management Tool devised by the DfE.

2024-25 Revenue & Capital School Balances

The Schools Forum was asked to note the contents of a report illustrating the maintained schools' balances position for the financial year ended 31 March 2025. The report illustrated that there had been an overall decrease in the school reserve ledger balance from £7.6m to £6.4m in the financial year 2024-25.

The report pack stated that the overall level of schools reserves had decreased from £7.67m to £6.40m in 2024-25. It also stated that schools had continued to face cost pressures including: increase in energy costs, increase in inflation, teachers & support staff pay awards and a significant increase in SEND demands across all sectors.

The report pack noted that the overall reserves as a percentage of the budget allocated to schools was 3.19% compared to 4.08% in 2023-24. It also noted that of the schools, 44% were carrying reserves in line with reserve levels recommended by the DfE, compared to 53% in 2022-23.

The report pack stated that the number of schools with a deficit balance had increased since 2023-24, and that discussions with schools in deficit were continuing with an aim to finalise agreed deficit recovery plans.

The report pack also noted that there were currently six schools that have uncommitted surpluses in excess of 15%. Royal Greenwich was scheduled to engage with those schools to determine if there were plans in place for the excess, and report back to the Forum by the October 2025 meeting.

2025-26 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Funding Update

The Schools Forum was asked to note the current funding position of the 2025-26 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).

The report pack stated that on 18 December 2024, the DfE published the final funding allocations for 2025-26. The DSG allocations are made up of the Schools Block, Central School Services Block, High Needs Block and Early Years Block.

The report pack noted that the School Block had increased by £18.9m (6.73%), and that in 2025/26 funding previously received as grants would now be allocated through the School Block and has contributed to the increase. The three grants which have been amalgamated within the Schools Block are the teachers' pay additional grant (TPAG), the teachers' pensions employer contributions grant (TPECG) and the core schools budget grant (CSBG).

The report pack stated that Royal Greenwich has adopted the National Funding Formula (NFF) method of distributing the Schools Block since 2018-19, as suggested by the DfE.

The report pack also noted that in 2025-26 the government has also earmarked the following grants to be allocated to schools and academies: the School Budget Support Grant (SBSG) and National Insurance Contribution increases (NIC).

The report pack stated that the final CSSB allocation for 2025-26 is £3.4m compared to £3.5m in 2024-25, a reduction of 4%.

The report pack noted that the high needs NFF allocation for 2025-26 is £76.9m, an increase of £4.7m, which is 6.53% increase on the 2024-25 allocation of £72.2m.

The report pack stated that due to the increased demand for Education Health Care Plans and the high demand for SEN support, the LA closed the financial year with a £11.5m overspend within the HNB, and that this has therefore contributed to the overall deficit position within the DSG net £8.87m.

The report pack noted that in November 2024, the DfE published indicative hourly rates for early years free entitlements, and that the main changes are an increase pass through requirement for LAs, changes to the special educational needs inclusion fund (SENIF) and disability access fund (DAF).

Forward Plan of Reports 2025-26

The Schools Forum was asked to note the forward plan for the reports to be considered in 2025-26.

The report pack stated that at the first meeting of the financial year, the Royal Borough of Greenwich provides a forward plan and timetable confirming the reports that will be presented to Schools Forum throughout the financial year.

The report pack noted that the Schools Forum meeting dates for 2025-26 would be set as follows to enable appropriate input to DfE returns and statutory timelines: 16 July 2025, 8 October 2025, 10 December 2025 and 14 January 2026.

The report pack stated that in 2016-17 Royal Greenwich agreed with Members of the Schools Forum to include National Funding Review updates as a standing item, and that it was proposed to continue with this approach as the Department for Education (DfE) is continuing to progress with the introduction of the National Funding Formula (NFF) from 2026-27.

Attendance Record

The Schools Forum was requested to note and review representatives' attendance. An Attendance Record Report for 2022-2025 was attached as an appendix to the report.