SEN support to schools who have in excess of 5% SEN in their mainstream setting
Lewisham Schools Forum is considering transferring funds to address financial pressures in the High Needs Block for special educational needs.
Lewisham Schools Forum is considering transferring funds from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block (HNB) for the 2026/27 budget. This potential move, discussed in December 2025, aims to address significant financial pressures within the HNB, which provides special educational needs (SEN) support to schools. The forum is weighing options to manage these pressures.
A report to the Lewisham Schools Forum in October 2025 indicated that the High Needs Block had an overspend of £3 million in 2024/25. This contributed to a projected cumulative deficit of £18.6 million for the HNB, highlighting the need for funding adjustments to support SEN provisions.
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