Hammersmith and Fulham's Schools Forum is considering a transfer of funds from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The discussion took place during their meeting on 16 December 2025, where members reviewed the provisional Schools Block allocation of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the 2026/27 financial year.

The Schools Forum is weighing a proposal to continue supporting the High Needs Block (HNB) through a 1% transfer from the Schools Block, estimated to be around £1.28 million. This builds upon a previous agreement, but requires ongoing approval from both the Schools Forum and the Minister of State, as a transfer above 0.5% necessitates a disapplication request. The outcome of the current request is expected in January 2026.

The report pack notes that per pupil funding has provisionally increased by 1.62% for Hammersmith and Fulham mainstream schools, compared to a 2.48% increase nationally. The principles for producing the Schools Block model assumes continuing support to the High Needs Block through a 1% transfer from the Schools Block. This difference in funding increases raises concerns about the potential impact of the 1% transfer on mainstream schools.

The report pack for the meeting notes that the continued disapplication is considered essential for the short to medium-term financial stability of the High Needs Block. However, the forum is also preparing for the possibility that the disapplication is not approved. As such, budget modelling will be produced based on both a 1% and a 0.5% transfer from the Schools Block, the latter being a standard requirement from the Department for Education (DfE) pending a decision on the disapplication. If the disapplication request is denied and only a 0.5% transfer is allowed, budget modelling will be produced on the assumption of a 0.5% transfer from the Schools Block to support the High Needs Block.

The Schools Forum approved the Schools Block to High Needs Block Transfer Disapplication Request at their previous meeting on 11 November 2025, according to the minutes. Peter Haylock (Director of Education and SEND) presented the report on the disapplication request for 2026/27 to support mitigating the High Needs Block (HNB) budget pressures over the medium term. He highlighted that the number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) had increased to 1840, with 79% of new plans for children aged up to 10. The minutes also mention that the Council was awaiting the Government's Schools White Paper on SEND reform, originally expected in Autumn 2025 but now delayed until Spring 2026, which would provide clarity on the national direction of travel.

The provisional Schools Block allocation from the DfE is £128.476m, based on October 2024 census numbers. The council anticipates receiving the final allocation, based on October 2025 census numbers and inclusive of growth and falling rolls funding, by 19 December 2025. According to the Public Reports Pack, per pupil funding has provisionally increased by 1.62% for Hammersmith and Fulham mainstream schools, compared to a 2.48% increase nationally.

The modelling for the 2026/27 school budget will be made once the Department for Education (DfE) issues the updated Authority Proforma Tool (APT) by 19 December 2025, consistent with the principles agreed by Schools Forum in November 2025 and in line with requirements of the Schools Block NFF for 2026/27. The key principles agreed upon by the Schools Forum in November 2025 regarding budget modelling are:

  • National Funding Formula (NFF) factor rates set to the higher of:
    • NFF values after area cost adjustment for inner London
  • Factor rates uplifted by a percentage across all factor rates in so far that this is affordable within each model to ensure all funding is allocated.
  • Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) set within the required level by the NFF.
    • This is the minimum increase in funding through pupil led funding factors year on year.
    • MFG must be set between minus 0.5% and 0.0% for 2026/27.

A consultation will open for a short period and will be based on the budget modelling principles agreed by Schools Forum, and a workshop will be held prior to the January 2026 Schools Forum.