Kingston schools are facing a significant financial challenge, with a projected £19 million deficit by the end of the financial year, driven largely by increasing High Needs costs. To address this, the council is exploring measures such as streamlining therapy services to prioritise early intervention and improve local commissioning. The possibility of adopting Richmond's Capella post-16 model in Kingston is also under consideration.

The Kingston upon Thames Schools Forum met on Monday 17 November 2025 to address the growing Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit. The forum reviewed the 2025/26 financial situation, with a particular focus on the High Needs Block (HNB).

A report presented to the forum highlighted a £10.75 million in-year overspend in the DSG, with £11.05 million attributed to the High Needs Block. An additional £850,000 was linked to rising future demand.

Key factors contributing to the overspend include post-16 spending, alternative provision (AP) placements, and therapy services. The demand for specialist provision is unsustainable, leading to children and young people being placed in AP. A detailed analysis revealed a £1.053 million increase in post-16 spending compared to the previous year, reaching over £8 million. This rise was attributed to independent placements, other Local Authority Special provisions, Independent Specialist Providers (ISPs), and FE colleges.

The forum also received an update from the HNB Subgroup, which had met on 14 October 2025. The subgroup identified four key areas for the Schools Forum to consider:

  • Kingston cluster funding model longer term
  • FE costs
  • The shortfall in therapy (and the potential solutions)
  • Part-time timetables (with the impact and complexities this has for potential funding implications and strategic provision).

Potential solutions to address the shortfall in therapy services include quantifying spending on spot-commissioned provisions for reinvestment, improving early intervention models for SEN support through investment, renegotiating local therapy arrangements with providers, and considering an early SALT model Communication Advisory and Support Service (Speech and Language Therapy), drawing on a successful example from Enfield Local Authority. It is anticipated that unaddressed SALT needs lead to higher costs for all, and this model could integrate with the Cluster Pilot.

Esther Brooks, CEO of Coombe Academy Trust and Chair of the HNB Subgroup, was tasked with presenting these areas to the Schools Forum for their consideration.

The HNB Subgroup also discussed post-16 data analysis, alternative provision, part-time timetables, and the early Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) model. Fiona Pace, Head of Inclusive Learning at South Thames Colleges Group, was assigned to work with Scott Gardner, Head of Finance at Achieving for Children (AfC), and Chike Nnalue, Associate Director for SEND at AfC, on post-16 data analysis.

Regarding part-time timetables, the shared principles are being revisited to determine when they are beneficial, rather than solely focusing on numbers, given the varied contexts and complexities. This review was prompted by Ofsted's interest in part-time timetables and the need for schools and Achieving for Children (AfC) to gain deeper insight into their use.

Charis Penfold, Director for Education Services at AfC, and Chike Nnalue were assigned to revisit the shared principles of part-time timetables and conduct a deep dive into Workstream 1, reporting back to the subgroup. Charis Penfold and Chike Nnalue were also asked to present the early SALT model at the January 2026 meeting.

The Schools Forum November 2025 Kingston Schools High Needs Block meeting minutes provide further details on the subgroup's discussions and actions.