Agenda and minutes

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th July 2013.

            Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th July 2013 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

            The Head of Finance, Education and Innovation, presented a report advising Forum members on the latest projected 2013/14 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) retained budget position and to brief members on the updated 2013/14 DSG  settlement position which had been confirmed by the Department of Education in July 2013.  Steve Haley, Head of Finance, Education and Innovation, commented on the positive retained budget position as at the end of August 2013 which indicated a projected underspend of £0.373m, although he advised that whilst this information was encouraging, given the volatile nature of the budget, it was too early in the year to conclude that this level of underspend would be achieved by the financial year end. 

            Steve Haley referred to the 2013/14 DSG settlement update that indicated a reduction of £0.106m which he explained arose from  the January 2013 Early Years’ census.  In response to a query regarding the implications of the “new post 16 responsibilities”, members were advised that the LA has been provided with additional DSG funding by the Department of Education (DfE) to commission provision for post 16 high need pupils in FE colleges and Independent Specialist Providers but that costs were originally envisaged to exceed the funding by £1m.  Latest information was more favourable in that costs were now projected to exceed funding by £0.7m but this remains a significant area of concern. 

            Resolved – That the Schools Forum notes:

(1)  That based on information available as at the end of August 2013,

an in-year underspend of approximately £0.373m was projected against the 2013/14 retained budget.   

(2)  The latest 2013/14 Dedicated School Grant settlement confirmed by

the Department of Education of £145.449m.

            The Head of Finance, Education and Innovation, and the Commissioner, Routes to Employment, submitted a joint report updating the Forum on the progress made with regards to 2013/14 Post 16, high needs student funding since the 9^th July 2013 Schools Forum report and to outline the indicative position for 2014/15.

            Paddy Bradley, Head of Commissioning, Economy & Attainment referred to discussions undertaken at the previous Schools Forum meeting held on 9^th July 2013 regarding funding for this area of provision.  He commented on the Local Authority’s responsibilities that included identifying the high need students and ensuring appropriate places were offered.   He referred to the uncertainty for future funding and advised that discussions would be undertaken in October 2013 between the Local Authority commissioners, local providers and the Education Funding Agency to review procedures for allocating places and funding to ensure the needs of post 16 high needs students were addressed.   He further suggested that the Forum may wish to discuss this at a future meeting.

            Steve Haley, Head of Finance, Education and Innovation, referred to the present underfunding that would need to be addressed in 2014/15.

            Following the presentation of the report, Paddy Bradley, Head of Commissioning Economy & Attainment and Steve Haley, Finance, Education and Innovation responded to members’ questions on the following issues:

·        With Schools Forum agreement the LA was offsetting the post 16 shortfall in 2013/14 by allocating surplus 2 year old nursery funding but this was not repeatable in future years. . 

·        As full year costs were now projected to exceed the funding available by £0.644m (compared to the original figure of £1.112m) approximately £0.468m earmarked  for post 16 would be retained and any balance would be available for distribution in the  2014/15 budget.

·        Confirmation that it was not possible to use Dedicated School Grant (which is provided for education purposes) to replace Children’s Centres funding which is provided through the LAs Core social care budget. 

            Resolved: That the Schools Forum notes:

(1)  That the latest projected full academic year costs were estimated at

£4.989m which was £0.468m lower than reported to the July Schools

Forum meeting.

(2)  That in light of the reduced estimated spending, the full balance of

surplus 2 year old funding would not be required in the current year.

(3)  That the 2014/15 position remained unclear and there was still a

£1m structural deficit between post 16 costs and funding which would need to be addressed as part of the 2014/15 Dedicated School Grant budget setting process.

(4)  That the development of a strategy by the Local Authority for

dealing with the 2014/15 post 16 shortfall, following a meeting with the Education Funding Agency on 24^th October, in consultation with the Chair of the Schools Forum, be agreed.

(5)  That, further to (4) above, the LA would explain the agreed strategy

at the November school consultation events and at the next meeting of the Schools Forum to be held on 21^st January  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

            The Head of Finance, Education and Innovation, presented a report advising Schools Forum Members of the latest position regarding 2014/15 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) funding and spending requirements including the potential impact of school funding reform changes which are required arising from the Department for Education (DfE) 4^th June 2013 announcement.  Steve Haley, Head of Finance, Education and Innovation commented on the LAs commitment to implementing a universal funding system covering SEN pupils attending specialist settings and referred to areas to be reviewed in determining the 2014/15 local funding allocations for mainstream schools.  He informed the Forum of the consultation exercise to be undertaken with Swindon Association of Primary Heads (SAPH), Swindon Association of Secondary Heads (SASH) and the High Needs Task Group.

            Steve Haley highlighted the main elements of the report and responded to questions put by members on the following issues:

·         Indications of DSG funding levels for 2014/15 including concerns that DfE guidance was that LAs should plan on the basis that high needs block funding may be frozen regardless of increasing pupil numbers

·         Detailed information on what constituted “Infrastructure funding”.

·         School Planning Team predictions on planned expansions and the implications on pupil growth funding calculations.

·         In relation to trigger funding, due to financial risk, clarity on whether the concept of a breakeven point could be introduced.

·         Predicted reduction in external placement costs despite an expected increase in demand within the retained pre 16 high needs budget which is reflected in the proposed contingency budget.

·         Retention of the retrospective supplement relating to the 2014/15 disadvantaged 2 year old position.

·         Special School top-up banding whereby some Members expressed concerns that pupils with similar levels of need may be attracting different amounts of funding in different settings.  Paddy Bradley, Head of Commissioning, Economy & Attainment explained that much had been achieved in clarifying funding for high needs students in the last couple of years and historic methods of funding would be re-visited in line with the requirements of the DfE school funding reform programme . He advised that the banding would aid continuity when a pupil progressed from pre to post 16 education. Members noted the robust peer to peer moderation process undertaken by special schools.

·         Difference in pre and post 16 funding for pupils, particularly where pupils continued to sixth form at school as opposed to attending college.  

·         Children’s prior attainment was widely used by LAs but is an optional funding factor in the new formula.  Members were advised that in the whole funding formula, only deprivation and basic pupil per entitlement were compulsory as part of the formula determination and that all other factors were optional.

·         Views were expressed that deprivation and low pupil attainment were intrinsically linked and this could explain differences in regional benchmarking data.

            Jo Garton, representing the Swindon Association of Primary Headteachers (SAPH) expressed her concerns that following an initial vote, the decision on the establishment of a reception uplift factor whilst calculating the 2014/15 school funding allocations, was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.