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.