Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Michelle Richards, Alan Symons, Julie Goodfellow, Elaine Pickering, Cllr Chris McHugh, Christine Ingle and Steve Williamson.

The Forum is asked to approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on 9 June 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 June 2016 were agreed as a correct record.

Gillian Dodds, Care Wellbeing and Learning

The Forum received a report seeking approval to use Early Years DSG reserves to enable the Council’s Design and Technical Services to carry out feasibility work, which is required by the DfE for a capital grant application.  The officers became aware on 1 July 2016 that applications could be submitted to the DfE for capital funding to help create additional placed for the extended three and four year old provision in time for September 2017.

The four schemes that best match the DfE’s selection criteria will be put forward to the DfE. As part of the application process concept designs, preliminary schemes and estimates of costs must be submitted by 31 August 2016. This work will cost £3,500 per scheme.  If any scheme is successful this would be returned to reserves, however for any unsuccessful applications this would not be refunded.

The DfE are allowing Gateshead to make up to four bids and there is only £40M to be awarded nationally, therefore it is highly unlikely that all of the schemes will be successful.  It is possible that no Gateshead schemes will be funded.

A request for expressions of interest was sent to all schools and private providers and work is currently ongoing to identify the four schemes to submit to DfE.

It was questioned whether this could be paid through Basic Need Funding. It was confirmed that this would not be allowed because it would be using capital for revenue purposes.

It was also questioned how this relates to need across Gateshead. It was confirmed that in Gateshead the DfE estimate that there will be 1370 children eligible for the extended entitlement in September 2017.  Officers have worked to analyse data to allocate these children to ward level and to estimate localised sufficiency of places. Any schemes within those areas that have sufficient places would not be eligible.

It was confirmed that bids will be reviewed next Thursday and up to four schemes that meet all of the criteria will be put forward. The deadline for submitting the worked up schemes is 31 August, and all of the schemes must be able to be completed by August 2017.

The Forum commented that there will be a loss of money through a transfer of schools money to the local authority and that the local authority should have better supported this work.

Carole Smith, Corporate Resources

The Forum received a report around the decision to award contingency funding to Winlaton West Lane Primary School. The school was judged as requiring improvement since May 2013 and has requested funding to enable additional staff to take voluntary redundancy and additional money for resources and training to assist the new leadership team.

Officers have worked with Education Gateshead to apply the Contingency Funding Criteria and awarded £15,905 for additional redundancy payments and £10,000 for additional resources.

It was queried as to the wording of the criteria as it refers to a school in ‘Special Measures’. It was noted that this wording needs to be updated to take into account changes in legislation. It was agreed that the criteria would be brought back to the next meeting as the wording needs updating.

The point was made that this is an historical situation, the school has been led for a number of years and been supported by the local authority yet still require additional funding. It was noted that previously this situation would be covered by Standards Funding, however this is no longer available and the school has nowhere else to go.

*Peter Largue declared a non-prejudicial interest in this item.

Carole Smith, Corporate Resources

The Forum was asked to approve the updated Scheme for Financing Schools. It was noted that all maintained schools were consulted and no responses were received.

Carole Smith, Corporate Resources

The Forum received a report on the current Special Schools Funding Review. The review is underway as funding was moved from ASD to SEMH in 2015/16 and this resulted in large funding swings for some schools, in addition it is likely that the implementation of a National Funding Formula will impact on the High Needs Block.

Meetings have been held with Special Headteachers and work is ongoing to agree an updated set of descriptors.

It was questioned whether banding will impact on ARMS pupils. It was clarified that this is two different systems and currently the review is just looking at Special Schools.

It was suggested that the cost of provision mapping should be looked at by the Schools Forum.

Carole Smith, Corporate Resources

The Forum received a report outlining the new SEND inspection carried out by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission. The role of the Forum is to look at funding for SEN pupils in Gateshead. The Forum was asked to review at the SEND template.

Carole Smith, Corporate Resources

An update will be given at the next meeting once further information is known.

Thursday 22 September 2016 at 2.00pm

The date and time of the next meeting is Thursday 22^nd September 2016 at 2.00pm.