HALTON'S schools are expecting a "massive increase" in funding next year, but the General Election continues to cause uncertainty over exactly how much they will receive.

The borough's schools forum heard on Wednesday that Halton's schools funding block, the main government grant that funds schools, was expected to be just under £92 million for 2020/21.

Council officer Ann Jones told the forum the approximately £5.5 million rise was "a massive increase on this year."

She said: "Pupil numbers have gone up but so has the amount we’re getting.

"It should be good news next year. It should ease a lot of pressures in schools."

Last month, the National Education Union claimed Halton's schools had seen their budgets cut by an average of £257 per pupil since 2015.

The NEU also claimed that around half of Halton’s schools would see their per pupil funding fall again next year.

Budgets for next year have not yet been confirmed, with Thursday’s General Election preventing the Department for Education releasing the final figures.

Halton's executive board member for resources, Cllr Mike Wharton, previously told the LDRS this made school budget planning "extremely difficult".

But officers at the schools forum were tentatively optimistic, while acknowledging that other parts of schools funding – including money for special needs and early years provision – would not be receiving similar increases.

Ms Jones said of a small increase planned for special needs funding: "It's not going to solve the problems, but it will help a lot.

"With good management, we will get there."