Agenda and minutes

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd October 2018.

            Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd October 2018 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

See explanatory note below. Please phone the Committee Officer whose name and number appears at the top of this agenda if you need further guidance.

Members have previously agreed that public questions were to be submitted in writing at least 24 hours prior to a meeting to enable officers to provide a detailed response.

            In accordance with Standing Order 28, Mr Alastair Dixon - Patterson of Lydiard Park Academy, Swindon, submitted written questions regarding a) the use mainstream funding to support Special Resource Provision (SRP) and b) the Department for Education /Education and Skills Funding Agency communication around exclusions charging. 

            It was noted that written responses had been prepared in respect of Mr Dixon-Patterson’s questions and that these had been tabled at the meeting.

            Mr Dixon-Patterson was in attendance and sought clarification regarding the financial year being utilised for the exclusions charging.  The Finance Manager, Education confirmed that an authority’s financial year was being implemented in the calculations. Mr Dixon-Patterson further advised that following the response he received to Question 1, he would be submitting revised questions regarding the allocation of SRP funding.

            The Finance Manager, Education submitted a report setting out the funding protocols that will be used to prepare the budgets for 2019/20.  She explained that the report addressed (a) the Mainstream Funding Formula; (b) the transfer of 0.5% Schools funding block to High Needs funding block and (c) it provided information regarding the  statutory services carried out on behalf of all maintained schools (2019/20 Education Function Charge) and academies.  She advised that the Schools Forum was being given the opportunity to agree the approach to be adopted by the local authority when setting the Dedicated Schools Grant Budget for 2019/20. 

            Following her presentation of the report, the Finance Manager, Education, with the Head of Education, responded to the members’ questions and comments in respect of the following matters:

·         The submission to the Secretary of State to request a disapplication of the funding regulations in regards to the transfer of 0.5% Schools Block funding to the High Needs Block.

·         The consultation with schools had been undertaken to ensure that schools views were taken into consideration and the overall response would be shared with the Secretary of State.

·         The need to ensure that the transfer of money to the High Needs Block improved outcomes for the children and young people.

·         That the HMCI’s report (https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/amanda-spielman-launches-ofsteds-annual-report-201718) reflected national issues regarding Special Educational Needs and that school inspections centred more on outcomes for specific groups rather than funding.

·         The process of accessing the high needs budget and how it was administered to ensure uniformity.

·         The F40’s work to lobby central government to increase funding for Swindon.

·         The need to review the Special Educational Needs processes with regards to school’s ability to re-apply for funding at timely intervals.

·         The potential effects on SEN provision if 0.5% of schools block funding was not transferred to the High Needs block.

·         The impact on the Schools Block Funding if 0.5% was transferred to the High Needs block.

·         That a High Needs Funding Review is being undertaken and would include looking at bandings and top-ups.

·         That due to the increase in the number of children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP), current funding would be allocated to a larger cohort of pupils.

·         That the High Needs block funding is not expected to increase significantly and the allocations within it would be reviewed.  

Resolved – (1) That School Forum agrees:

(a)  To the principals to be implemented when setting the Mainstream Funding Formula.

(b)  To the transfer of 0.5% Schools funding block to High Needs funding block that was estimated at £0.687m.

(c)  To the principle that the LA retains the funding that will be announced in December 2018 as part of the Central Schools Services Block to contribute to the costs of the LA meeting its statutory duties for all pupils.

(d)  That the LA retains £16.50 per pupil fee to contribute to the cost of providing its statutory duties for all maintained pupils. 

(e)  That the principals of setting the local formula be as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.