The Ealing Schools Forum was scheduled to discuss the proposed school funding for the 2026-27 academic year, including the Scheme for Financing Schools and updates on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms. The meeting also included a review of the forum's membership.

School Funding 2026-27

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing school funding for the 2026-27 academic year. This included a review of the proposed Scheme for Financing Schools, which outlines the financial relationship between the local authority and maintained schools. The report pack indicated that the scheme was substantially the same as the previous year's, with only minor wording and date updates. The scheme maintains the existing balance control mechanism for excess surplus balances, with a decision on its implementation for the current year to be made in June.

The forum was also to consider updates on the Schools White Paper and SEND reforms consultation, as well as Ealing's Local Area SEND Reform Plan. This plan is a requirement for local areas to submit to the Department for Education (DfE) by June 2026, detailing how they will improve their SEND system, focusing on earlier intervention and inclusive practice. The DfE has announced new and expanded funding streams to support these reforms, including the Inclusive Mainstream Fund and the Experts at Hand and local authority SEND transformation Fund. Ealing has provisionally been allocated £2.83 million from the latter.

Discussions were also scheduled regarding top-up funding arrangements for 2026-27. This included a review of the Ealing Level Descriptor Project, which aims to create a fairer, more consistent, and transparent funding system for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The report pack detailed proposed increases to top-up values for special schools and specialist provision in mainstream schools, taking into account inflation and cohort changes. For special schools, the top-up values for 2026-27 were set to increase by an amount equivalent to a 1% increase to baseline and top-up funding combined. Similarly, specialist provision in mainstream schools saw revised top-up values for 2026-27. The report also outlined funding arrangements for Alternative Provision (PRUs) and mainstream schools, including the introduction of the Mainstream Inclusion Fund.

The report pack also addressed the financial sustainability of schools, noting that primary school rolls have been falling, impacting secondary schools as well. This, combined with reduced in-year admissions, has led to overall downward impacts on allocations for some schools, even if per-pupil funding rates have increased. The Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) was discussed in relation to changes in pupil cohorts and deprivation levels. The report highlighted that funding protection for schools largely arises from the lagged nature of the funding system, which can create timing challenges. Significant funding reductions were affecting school sustainability, with several schools reporting deficits. The local authority's place planning working group was noted as working with schools on these issues, promoting sustainability measures such as federations and shared services.

The forum was also to consider centrally retained budgets, high needs funding, and forecasted school balances. The lack of an increase to the high needs block for 2026-27 was noted as a pressure on the system, with further information expected following the publication of SEND reforms. A working group was in place to discuss the challenges and implications of reducing pupil numbers and potential mitigation strategies.

The report pack indicated that the Ealing Schools Forum was recommended to:

• Note the early years consultation feedback.
• Agree the centrally retained level of the Education Budget (EB) at 3%.
• Note and comment on the proposed use of the EB, and the proposed rates and structure of the Early Years Funding Formula 2026-27.
• Note the value of the Schools Block (SB) and budgeted commitments to the SB.
• Note and comment on the indicative allocations of the Individual Schools Budgets and proposed funding formula factor values for 2026-27.
• Note the external growth funding estimates and proposed approach to funding.
• Note the revised Central School Services Block (CSSB) allocation and agree the proposed adjustments to the line-by-line allocations.
• Note the value of the High Needs Block (HNB) and budgeted commitments to the HNB.
• Note that officers would report further on the Ealing Additional and Special Educational Needs, Disabilities and Inclusion strategy and Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) management plan at the next meeting.
• Note an update on the implementation of the 2024-25 balance control mechanism.
• Note an update on forecasted school balances.

Membership

The Ealing Schools Forum was scheduled to note the current membership of the forum. The report pack provided a table detailing the categories of members, their names, schools, start and expiry dates of their terms of office. It also indicated several vacant positions across different categories.

Minutes

The forum was scheduled to approve the minutes of the previous Ealing Schools Forum meeting held on 22 January 2026.

Apologies for Absence and Substitutions

The meeting was to note any apologies for absence and substitutions.

Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest scheduled to be discussed.