URL: https://northlincolnshire.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1488

Decision Maker: Independent Families - Children Cabinet Member

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose:

Content: The Director:  Children and Families submitted a report updating the Cabinet Member on the 2026-27 funding allocations for Dedicated Schools Grant and the amount available for Individual School Budgets and Early Years providers.   The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) published operational guides annually to help local authorities and their Schools Forum plan the local implementation of school funding formulas and deliver early years entitlements for the forthcoming year.   On 17 December 2025 the ESFA published the 2026-27 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Allocations, based on October 2025 School Census data. The total allocation for North Lincolnshire was £212.246m (£208.779 after recoupment and deductions for National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) and direct funding of High Needs Places by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA)). This was an increase of £10.876m from last year, but includes the rolling in of separate grants from 2025-26. The DSG consists of four funding blocks.   The schools block funded all mainstream schools and was ring fenced. The Operational guide set out how Individual School Budget (ISB) shares could be calculated.   The council’s local school funding formula mirrored the schools National Funding Formula (NFF). Key changes to the schools NFF in 2026 to 2027 affecting North Lincolnshire mainstream schools were detailed in paragraph 2.5 of the report.   The Early Years Block funded all providers of early education, early years’ entitlements and key changes to the Early Years Funding for 2026/27 were set out in the report at paragraphs 2.7, 2.8 and 2.9.   Local authorities determined their own local early years formula that met the requirements of statutory guidance. Any changes to the funding formulae must be in consultation with Schools Forum, maintained schools and early years providers.    The report sets out the final proposals for the North Lincolnshire Schools Funding Formula and the North Lincolnshire Early Years Formula for 2026-27.   Resolved – (a) That the factors set out in Appendix 1, Option 2 to the report be used to calculate the individual school budget shares for mainstream schools within North Lincolnshire for 2026-27 be applied, and (b) that the early years formula factors and values set out in Appendix 2, Option 2 to the report for the financial year 2026-27 be approved.

Date of Decision: February 12, 2026