Bromley Schools Face £7.3M Overspend, SEN Costs a Key Driver

Bromley schools are facing a significant financial challenge, with a projected £7.3 million overspend, primarily driven by the rising costs of special educational needs (SEN). The issue was discussed at the Bromley Council Schools' Forum meeting on Thursday, July 10, 2025.

Like many other local authorities, Bromley is experiencing a rise in the number and complexity of special educational needs and disabilities, a trend that has become particularly pronounced over the past five years, according to the CEF Provisional Outturn Report 2024/25. The report notes that the national increase in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) is widely acknowledged as unsustainable, and the rate of increase has accelerated.

The Children, Education and Families (CEF) Portfolio is reporting a projected overspend of £7,338k for the year, according to the CEF Provisional Outturn Report 2024/25. The Education Division (core funding) is projected to overspend by £1,575k, with SEN and SEN transport identified as key risk areas.

To address the £7.3 million overspend, Bromley Council is considering several measures. The CEF Provisional Outturn Report 2024/25 states that significant management action continues to be taken to reduce the costs of SEN Transport, including the implementation of measures to drive down cost reductions as per the savings targets in the MTFS. The council is also exploring commissioning additional local specialist provision, including a new special free school, and increases in Additionally Resourced Provisions, which are specialist classes within mainstream schools.

The report cites several factors contributing to the SEN overspend, including the aforementioned increase in the number and complexity of special educational needs and disabilities. Continued pressures on transport providers, linked to fuel costs and driver wages, are also exacerbating the situation.

The report also notes a current projected in-year overspend in Education (Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) funding) of £9,820k. This will be added to the £16,222k carried forward in the reserves from 2023/24, giving an estimated DSG reserve of £27,061k at the end of the financial year.

In Children's Social Care, the projected overspend is £5,763k, with issues affecting this position including mental health and inflation, financial pressures, and staff recruitment and retention. The CEF Provisional Outturn Report 2024/25 indicates that while progress has been made in recruiting permanent staff (92%) and reducing reliance on agency staff, the spend on agency staff still contributes to budget pressures.

The Schools Forum also reviewed spending by primary, secondary and special maintained schools in 2024-25. The report on Spending by Maintained Schools in 2024-25 noted that the average level of revenue balances for Maintained Primary Schools stands at 17% of School Budget Shares, an increase from the previous year. Secondary School balances have remained at 2%, and Special School balances have reported no movement from the previous year of 4%.

All schools with un-committed balances in excess of 8% have been asked to complete a pro-forma detailing the reason for holding a high balance and their plans for reducing the balance in year. The report on Spending by Maintained Schools in 2024-25 notes this requirement, though it does not specify potential consequences for schools that fail to comply.