Agenda item

Hine Thompson introduced the report (Agenda Item 11), which set out the final Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocation for 2026/27. The table under section 4.3 of the report showed the 2026/27 DSG final allocation by block and was based on the October 2025 census pupil numbers. The table included both the monetary and percentage changes. More detail was provided on each of the blocks from section five of the report onwards.

Kavash Bamfield asked about the scale of the structural gap between the Council’s statutory Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) duties and the funding available. She noted that headteachers were concerned about delays in the Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process and queried whether the funding received was adequate to meet statutory timeframes.

Emma Ferrey sought clarification on whether the concern related to the need to ensure the Local Authority (LA) was delivering on the 20 week timeline and putting more of the LAs central service investment into that area or whether additional resources were felt to be required. Kavash Bamfield acknowledged that no additional funding was available but explained that headteachers were concerned about  the LA’s ability to meet statutory EHCP duties within required timescales. She said it appeared that the level of funding provided did not adequately support the work required.

Emma Ferrey noted that West Berkshire’s SEND team was broadly comparable to that of neighbouring authorities. She noted that one of the differences they could look at was how the system worked compared to these areas and she had set up some time with the SEND Manager to review team structures and workflow.

Emma Ferrey commented that EHCPs produced locally were written to a very high standard, which could be contributing to delays, and that efficiencies might be possible while maintaining clear statements of needs and provision. Emma Ferrey highlighted delays caused by the need to wait for Educational Psychology (EP) assessments. Additional resource had been provided to the EP service to address backlogs, alongside work to clarify statutory and traded elements of the service. Emma Ferrey emphasised the need to balance statutory timelines with support to schools through services such as the autism support and inclusion teams and, as the new head of service for the area, this formed part of what she would be focusing on. She welcomed ideas from teachers about where improvements could be made and was open to  suggestions.

Revered Mark Bennet asked how much additional funding would be required to meet statutory obligations in a timely way, noting that an indicative figure would be helpful when making representations to Members of Parliament.

Emma responded that this was difficult to calculate until national SEND reforms were confirmed. She explained that possible changes, such as thresholds for EHCP eligibility, remained uncertain. She advised that national policy direction was focused on building capacity in mainstream schools through training, support and the development of additional resource provisions.

Councillor Iain Cottingham provided further context on wider local government funding. He explained that the government’s fair funding review classified West Berkshire as an area of low deprivation, resulting in a proposed reduction in the share of business rates retained locally. He reported that the LA currently retained around £30 million but that proposals would reduce this to £13 million, mitigated only temporarily through a Revenue Support Grant which was due to be withdrawn by 2027/28. Councillor Cottingham noted that this made additional LA funding unlikely in the foreseeable future. He commented that it was unclear whether deprivation metrics might also be used in future High Needs Block funding. Emma confirmed that the metric for future High Needs allocations had not yet been announced.

Rebecca Hartley asked whether work was being undertaken to quantify the funding gap more accurately, and whether consideration was being given to how much of individual schools’ deficits were a direct result of a lack of funding for high needs and EHCPs. She suggested that these deficits might be obscuring the true extent of the local funding shortfall.

Emma Ferrey agreed that this was an important issue and confirmed that finance colleagues would have greater awareness of how school deficit positions were reported to the LA. She explained that the position was complex and involved both statutory pressures and the need for early intervention and prevention. She also highlighted concerns about the rising costs of placements in independent and non?maintained special schools, noting that some placement costs had doubled over the past year despite efforts to reduce demand for such placements.

Kavash Bamfield asked a further question. She noted the increasing demand for SEND support and pressures on statutory timeframes and asked whether portfolio holders were prepared to invest in additional SEND officers to increase capacity and improve timeliness. She expressed concern that the current staffing level of two SEND Officers was not sufficient to meet statutory duties.

Councillor Cottingham explained that the LA faced a significant budget shortfall for 2026/27 and had required Exceptional Financial Support in the previous two financial years, with further support likely to be necessary. He advised that any request for additional staffing would require a business case which would be considered through the budget?setting process. He noted that commissioning reviews were underway across Adults and Children’s Services which might release funding for reinvestment.

Kavash Bamfield indicated that she would welcome a transparent discussion involving senior officers and portfolio holders going forward, because she was concerned statutory duties were not being met with the resources provided. Councillor Cottingham confirmed that this would be a matter for the Executive Director and Service Director for Education. Kavash Bamfield felt that it was important that Councillors were part of these discussions as they would be key in making requests to Council for increased funding to meet statutory duties. Kavash Bamfield stated that she would follow this up with AnnMarie Dodds and Neil Goddard. Emma Ferrey proposed that officers bring back data on statutory timelines to the next Heads’ Funding Group in June and subsequent Schools’ Forum meeting. The Chair thanked members for the discussion and noted that the issues raised would be taken forward by Officers.

RESOLVED that a report would be brought to the next round of meetings in June, which provided data on statutory timelines.