London Councils’ response to the second stage of the consultation on the National Funding Formula (NFF)

Schools

London Councils recognises that the Department for Education has made a considerable shift in the way it plans to introduce the NFF for schools since its last consultation.

We still, however, have significant concerns about the impact that funding cuts will have on the 70% of London schools still facing reductions to their budgets as a result of the NFF. We have serious concerns about the ability of London’s schools to cope with such significant budgetary reductions without it impacting on their ability to deliver a high quality education.

Our analysis shows that it would take £335 million per annum of additional funding (just a 1% increase in the schools block budget) to protect all schools across the country from a funding cut arising from the introduction of the national funding formula.

High needs

Pressures on high needs budgets are amongst the most acute of any local government service area in the capital. London Councils is disappointed that the scale and urgency of this financial challenge has not been recognised in the second round consultation.

London Councils is concerned that insufficient funding from central government now causes serious risk to the welfare and educational outcomes of high needs pupils in the capital and elsewhere. We believe that a substantial injection of additional funding into the high needs block is required urgently to keep pace with the triple pressure of rapidly rising demand, rising prevalence rates and changing types of need.

For more details about our concerns please read our consultation responses: