Issue - meetings

The report provides a summary of the high needs budget for 2025-26 and includes details of new activities to support pupils with additional needs in mainstream schools – the inclusion fund and outreach plus. 

The inclusion fund is funded by surplus school block funding as agreed by Schools Forum in January 2025. The report sets out the how the fund will be allocated in 2025-26 following further consultation with headteachers since February this year.

Outreach plus is a new service to support mainstream schools establish resourced provision with the aim of increasing specialist capacity for children with autism spectrum condition and social, emotional and mental health needs.

Once fully implemented these two activities should deliver savings to the high needs budget through future cost avoidance.

The Assistant Chief Finance Officer and the Head of School Planning and Admissions presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The Chair advised that he had received a number of questions on this prior

The report provided a summary of the high needs budget for 2025-26 and included details of new activities to support pupils with additional needs in mainstream schools – the inclusion fund and outreach plus. 

The Forum was advised that the inclusion fund was funded by surplus school block funding as agreed by Schools Forum in January 2025. The report set out the how the fund would be allocated in 2025-26 following further consultation with headteachers.

Outreach Plus was a new service to support mainstream schools establish resourced provision with the aim of increasing specialist capacity for children with autism spectrum condition and social, emotional and mental health needs. Once fully implemented these two activities should deliver savings to the high needs budget through future cost avoidance.

A question was raised regarding the distinctions between the £550,000 allocated for specialist outreach and the £380,000 for training and support,

It was clarified that:

• The £550,000 covered the extension of existing outreach support from specialist SEND services into mainstream schools.
• The £380,000 was allocated for training and development, including trauma-informed schools training and mental health first aid training.

These elements were part of the actions referenced in previous minutes and would be clarified with Schools Forum representatives to ensure appropriate coverage. The elements which would be affected by any reduction in fundin would be considered moving forward. It was also noted that outreach plus was funded separately.

RESOLVED that the report be noted and that it be noted that discussions with Forum members regarding the finer details of the training funding would begin shortly.