The Schools Forum of Hammersmith and Fulham Council was scheduled to discuss the proposed budgets for the Schools Block and Early Years Block for the 2026/27 financial year. The meeting also included a review of the forward plan for March 2026.

Schools Block Budget and Mainstream Budgets 2026/27

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the proposed Schools Block allocation of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for 2026/27. This report detailed the final funding allocations received from the Department for Education (DfE) and outlined changes to how funding previously distributed through the National Insurance Contributions Grant and Schools Budget Support Grant would be incorporated into the Schools Block.

The report indicated an increase in per-pupil funding for Hammersmith and Fulham mainstream schools by 1.58%, which was noted as being lower than the national increase of 2.48%. A consultation on the proposed budget model had taken place in the week prior to the meeting.

The proposed budget model for 2026/27 was based on the DfE's Authority Proforma Tool (APT) and operational guidance, using October 2025 census data. Key principles included setting the Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) at minus 0.50% and mirroring the National Funding Formula (NFF) factor rates with a 0% uplift on inner London rates. A 1% transfer from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block was also modelled, continuing a practice agreed in previous terms. This transfer, valued at £1.262m, required Schools Forum approval and had received Minister of State approval.

The report also detailed proposed de-delegated budgets and statutory education functions for maintained schools, noting that inflation and pay settlements were putting pressure on these budgets. Contributions from all schools, including academies and free schools, were proposed to ensure the sustainability of statutory trade union facilities and free school meals eligibility checking services.

The report addressed falling rolls funding, noting that Hammersmith and Fulham did not meet the Department for Education's mandatory criteria for a separate falling rolls fund. Therefore, it was proposed that this funding be included within the Schools Block allocation distributed via funding factors.

Finally, the report outlined planned expenditure for Central Services Schools Block (CSSB) for 2026/27, showing a reduction in funding compared to the previous year, partly due to the winding down of historic funding.

The meeting was scheduled to consider six recommendations, including the adoption of the proposed budget model with an MFG of minus 0.50%, confirmation of the 1% transfer to the High Needs Block, agreement on de-delegation and education functions budgets for maintained schools, and agreement on the approach for trade union facilities and free school meals eligibility costs. The allocation for the Central Services School Block was also presented for agreement.

Early Years Budget 2026/27

This report provided an update on the initial allocation of Early Years Block funding for 2026/27, including extended entitlements for working parents of two-year-olds and children from nine months old. The report detailed changes to the National Funding Formula for Early Years, including an increase in the pass-through requirement to 97% for providers and the integration of the Early Years National Insurance Contributions and Teachers' Pay Grant into the national average funding rates. A move to a termly funding system was also outlined.

The proposed budget for the Early Years Block totalled £25.845m. This included funding for the 3 and 4-year-old universal entitlement (15 hours), extended hours for working parents, targeted support for two-year-olds, and the new entitlement for children aged nine months to two years. The report detailed the proposed hourly funding rates for each entitlement, with increases for two-year-olds and children under two.

Key elements of the proposed budget included base rates, deprivation supplements, supplements for quality, and funding for Special Educational Needs (SEN) inclusion. A lump sum for maintained nursery schools was also included to support early intervention services. The report noted a reduction in central expenditure due to the increased pass-through requirement.

The meeting was asked to approve the proposed deployment of the central budget and to note the impact of the pass-through requirement. Schools Forum was also asked to note the proposed 2026/27 Early Years budget and the change to termly funding arrangements.

Forward Plan March 2026

The final item on the agenda was a forward plan for the Schools Forum meeting scheduled for March 2026. This plan included updates on Dedicated Schools Grant monitoring, High Needs Safety Valve, and the High Needs National Funding Formula and reforms. It also indicated an update to the Scheme for Financing Schools and Schools Financial Procedures for 2026/27.