Norfolk’s Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) consultation takes place at a time of significant challenge and opportunity for the education and inclusion system. Mainstream schools across the county are operating under significant financial pressures, with budgets and resources stretched. These pressures are not only a local concern, but reflect a national picture, where the sustainability of school funding is under increasing scrutiny.
Despite these constraints, there is a strong and visible commitment across Norfolk’s education system to work collaboratively to improve outcomes for all children. This includes a shared ambition to transform the experience and provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those requiring Alternative Provision (AP). Norfolk’s Area SEND and AP Strategy (NASAPS) with its associated priorities and actions, along with the Local First Inclusion (LFI) transformation programme, are key vehicles for delivering this change.
This consultation is, itself, a key part of this journey—ensuring that schools, settings, and stakeholders have a voice in shaping the future of funding and provision. It also reflects our commitment to transparency, co-production, and evidence-led decision-making.
While the DSG consultation may contain technical questions, it is not, ultimately, just a technical exercise – it is a strategic opportunity to align funding decisions with our collective mission: to ensure that every child in Norfolk, regardless of their needs or background, can flourish in a system that is inclusive, ambitious, and financially sustainable.
To review the more complete introduction see Dedicated Schools Grant consultation: Mainstream schools document 2025 - DSG introduction (opens in new window).
To review the strategic context see Dedicated Schools Grant consultation: Mainstream schools document 2025 - Strategic context (opens in new window).
Click here to read more about The Dedicated Schools Grant (opens in new window).
This survey will be open for submissions from Friday 3 October and Friday 24 October 2025. We would encourage all settings to submit only one response each via this consultation survey.
Responses will then be analysed, with results and recommendations presented to Norfolk Schools Forum on 26 November 2025. After this, Norfolk County Council's Cabinet will make recommendations on the proposals in January 2026, considering both the consultation responses and the view of Schools Forum, and the Full Council will make final decisions on the 2026-27 formula in February 2026. Schools will be notified of their expected budget shares in line with DfE timescales.