Enfield schools are facing a significant financial challenge, with an overspend pushing the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit to £17.4 million. The primary driver of this deficit is the rising cost of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) placements.
The Enfield Council Schools Forum met on Wednesday 2 July 2025 to discuss the updated DSG allocations and budget positions for 2024/25 and 2025/26. The projected overspend for 2024/25 is £2.7 million, which increases the DSG deficit to £17.418 million. This overspend is primarily due to a £4.8 million overspend in the High Needs block, related to SEND placements and costs, offset by underspends in the Early Years and Central School Services blocks, according to the DSG Update - Schools Forum Report 2 July 2025.
Like many other local authorities, Enfield is operating in a challenging financial environment. Significant budget pressures are expected to continue in 2025/26, including ongoing increases in demand and complexity related to placement costs, the impact of the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) banding pilot, and the full-year impact of 2024/25 budget pressures.