17 January 2025 weekly update

Dear Colleagues,

Christine is out of the office this week, but was keen to ensure we provided you with some updates on key developments.

Schools Funding Forum
This took place last Friday.  They had a heavy agenda considering the outcome of various consultations which affect schools budgets - the school budget consultation 2025/26, communities of schools  and mainstream high needs funding, and services to schools review – together with the high needs uplift (which affects special schools and PRUs), the early years rates, growth fund policy and an update on the specialist teaching and learning service (STLS).

Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee
This met yesterday, also with a heavy agenda.  Many items were linked to those considered by the School Funding Forum. The Committee have made recommendations to Rory Love, OBE, the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, who will shortly make his decisions.  The Committee considered a number of SEND related proposals that schools have been engaged in developing and shaping -  the SEND Strategy, Education Accessibility Strategy, School Access Initiative Policy, SEN funding system,  the future role of STLS – together with the funding papers related to early years and schools.

This means we are close to making final decisions about the future provision of support and funding for SEND in Kent, and being able to move forward together with implementing the transformation.

Best wishes

David Adams
Assistant Director Education (South Kent)