Minutes:
Jenny Lawrence
introduced her report and summarised the recommendations in paragraphs 3 - 10,
which would require both noting and decision making by Schools’ Forum members.
Jenny explained
that the Schools Block Education Services Grant which the Local Authority
receives for statutory duties was now included in the Dedicated Schools Block.
High Needs - Jenny
reported that the school funding rate would remain at 2016/17 levels. The Minimum Funding Guarantee will remain at
minus 1.5% per pupil for 2017/18.
Jenny reported that
School Budgets had been submitted and had been declared compliant with the
regulations by the Education Funding Agency (EFA).
The High Needs
transfer is slightly below the estimated £3m at £2.58m in the County Council
Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), which will be considered at Cabinet
tomorrow and County Council on 22 February.
The table in
paragraph 30 sets out High Needs pressures to 2018/19. Proposed savings include
Placement costs, review of Specialist Teaching Services and other areas funded
from High Needs.
Paragraph 34 sets
out the proposed Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) savings targets.
The National
Funding Formula for Early Years has been introduced by the DfE
from April 2017. Changes to the ways
providers receive funding has been subject to a consultation. An increase of 13.5% for Leicestershire will
get passed on to providers. 2017 sees
the introduction of the Disability Access Fund, giving additional funding for
pupils in receipt of National Living Allowance.
SEN Inclusion Fund
– support for 3 and 4 year olds set up for SEN providers. An increase of £100,000 to
reflect the expansion of 15 to 30 hours provision for eligible families from
September 2017.
Base Rates set out
in paragraphs 59 - 60 in terms of 2, 3 and 4 year olds.
No changes to the
way school budgets are calculated, other than the re-stating of IDACI bands
which are led by national changes in data from the EFA.
New rates set for
excluded pupils.
No formal
notification of Pupil Premium for 2017/18.
It is estimated £2m
as free balance within the Schools Grant, which is being held as
contingency. Not clear the Local
Authority role in terms of school growth once the National Funding Formula is
introduced.
Paragraph 63 sets
out high level proposals around Local Authority Budget for growth and savings
and focus of Capital Programme over the next 2 years.
The following
questions were raised:
High Needs Block
Suzanne Uprichard
referred to the table on page 19 which indicates that Oakfield was expected to
take a reduction of £30,000 in 2017/18 and £50,000 in 2018/19 and asked if that
was correct. Jenny responded that those
proposed savings were correct.
Suzanne reported
back from a recent meeting at Oakfield which concluded that £30,000 plus other
savings identified meant could not logically continue but could probably
squeeze up to £20,000. Suzanne reported
that Alison Bradley the Headteacher was also a Service Manager at the Local
Authority and she was expected to spend time at the LA, that
time was not reimbursed back into Oakfield.
There needed to be clarification whether Oakfield is a service or a
school. Concerns regarding decisions had
not been made with Oakfield and concerns that it may result in possible
safeguarding issues at Oakfield with their most vulnerable children.
Jenny Lawrence
responded that a range of savings and opportunities had been identified by
service leads within the Local Authority, within the Medium Term Financial
Strategy being presented at County Council on 22 February.
Paul Meredith
reported that the decision was made on the basis of information provided by
officers and was still going through the process of finalising budget. He stated that Oakfield is a very valuable
resource, and confirmed it is a school.
Karen Allen
commented that Oakfield has 2 separate funding streams –school to school support
which is working very effectively but this is the school budget stream and any
cut to their budget would have massive implications.
Jane Moore
introduced herself as the newly appointed Assistant Director for Education and
Early Help. Jane confirmed that Oakfield
was committed and running as a school and the LA was working with Alison
Bradley to ensure the retention of the support and services in place.
Martin Turnham
commented on the scale of Oakfield savings from the High Needs Block £30,000 -
£50,000, and was a short sighted saving and asked if there could be other ways
of making savings.
Steve McDonald
referred to the use of High Needs budget in paragraph 31, Appendix B and asked
if the Independent sector £24m was included in £66m. Jenny clarified yes the Local Authority was
looking at all aspects of High Needs spend and driving down costs of those
external placements.
Steve McDonald
asked how that compared with Ashmount, Forest Way etc? Jenny responded that unit costs were very different
and varied on needs, vast range of support children receiving,
some required 2:1 support on a 24-hour basis.
Average costs are shown in Appendix B.
Nick Goforth
commented that if independent places reduced to £57,800 that would cover the
£50,000.
Paul Meredith
commented that Leicestershire was in a difficult position, already stating impacts, projected overspend
£3.8m reduced to £2.3m but still a long way to go.
David Thomas
referred to the table in paragraph 30.
The overall allocation to Leicestershire is £63.157m and includes all
FE, maintained schools and academy funding. Once the EFA have made the
County allocation they recoup funding for FE providers who they fund directly,
the difference of £1.694m relates to this funding. The figure of £61.463 represents the grant
available to the County Council to commission all High Needs services including
places at academies.
Karen Allen thanked
colleagues on behalf of the Oakfield Management Board that many people agree it
is a school, not a service for those children there. Secondly, looks like may re-consider those
cuts to Oakfield, and asked if that was still going to happen, could an
equivalent saving to Secondary Partnerships budget also be considered.
Jenny Lawrence
clarified school funded £10,000 place plus top up funding similar to special
schools. Minimum funding does not kick
in the same way and works quite differently.
Early Years
Block
Suzanne Uprichard
referred to paragraphs 36 and 37, Countesthorpe
Nursery, which currently receives £6.80 per hour compared to voluntary and
independent providers, and asked does that mean it will come out of being a
maintained nursery and the £6.80 per hour will reduce? Jenny responded yes, if the proposals are
confirmed.
There was discussion
regarding the extension of Free Entitlement to Early Education additional
hours, which would be a funding issue for many schools. Jenny Lawrence stated that Early Years
funding reflects on the hours being taken.
Jenny proposed that a member of the Early Years and Childcare Service
attend a future meeting of the Schools’ Forum to clarify how they are working
with providers to roll out the 30 hours Free Entitlement to Early Education for
3 and 4 year olds. Forum agreed.
Jane Moore reported
that Early Years colleagues had been working with the private sector primarily
around the changes. Jane assured Primary
Headteachers that the team would make contact to
discuss the 30 hours in more detail.
Excluded Pupils
Karen Allen asked
where that money would go. Jenny
confirmed that funding would follow the pupil, whether it was Oakfield or a
different school.
Pupil Premium
Jenny confirmed
separate allocation, a question to be asked why it should be separate.
Mr Ould reported
that Nick Gibb was representing F40 at a round table discussion, only
organisation disagreed with proposals was F40.
Promised in March has not been delivered in December. F40 members would be meeting in the House of
Commons on 20 February. The Government
might have to reconsider how pupil premium be delivered. Proposals on the table at the moment – F40
have rejected the proposals can’t understand the logistics.
Dedicated
Schools Grant Reserve
Tony Gelsthorpe
referred to the table in paragraph 61 on School Deficits and Sponsorship. Jenny Lawrence responded there were two
different groups of schools converting.
Under normal conversion would carry forward deficit and all surplus, but if converting under sponsorship arrangements
then school would leave deficit behind with the Local Authority and start
afresh. Jenny said where
at risk of school deficit coming back to the Authority, the Local Authority
will issue a Warning Notice and would expect the school to see their way out of
that deficit in time as a maintained school.
Jenny clarified the table in paragraph 61 leaves a balance of just over
£2m.
The Local
Authority Budget
Tony Gelsthorpe
referred to paragraph 63 and asked what proportion of the LEEP budget? Jenny clarified that was the total budget.
DECISIONS
Schools’ Forum were asked to approve the retention of budgets. Jenny clarified the third bullet point
increase 2016/17 – previously Education Services Grant was now included in the
Dedicated Schools Grant.
Schools’ Forum agreed the recommendations in
the report, as set out on page 10.
Supporting documents: