Agenda and minutes

Gateshead Schools Forum - Thursday, 15th February, 2024 2.00 pm

Contact: Kate Lowes, Tel: 0191 433 4244, Email: democraticservicesteam@gateshead.gov.uk

Items

No.

Item

42.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence received from Jacqui Ridley and Brendan Robson and Councillor Sheila Gallagher

43.

Minutes PDF 89 KB

The Forum is asked to approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on the 11^th January 2024.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on the 11th January 2024 were agreed as a correct record.

44.

Early Years Funding - 2-Year-Old Funding PDF 140 KB

Carole Smith, Resources and Digital

Minutes:

The Forum received a report to outline the results of the Early Years 2-Year-Old funding consultation.

After the approval of the 2-year-old funding formulae proposals at the January 2024 Forum the consultation documents were sent to all early year settings on the 16th January 2024, a total of 26 responses were received, but not all respondents answered all questions.

The results showed overall positive response to the proposals in the consultation from 88.46% to 50%.

There had been a significant number of don’t know responses and disagreement responses ranged from 3.85% to 30.77%.

The funding formulae will be reviewed during 2024/25 financial year.

RESOLVED:	(i) The School Forum approved a single funding formula forboth disadvantaged and 2-year-olds of working parents.
	(ii) The School Forum approved 5% top-slice to contribute to the early years funding team and the remainder to be added to the inclusionfund.
	(iii) The School Forum approved a base rate of £6.5664 perhour
	(iv) The School Forum approved disadvantaged supplementrate £0.86, with £0.05 to be held in contingency for fluctuations in pupil mix between disadvantaged and 2- year-olds of working parents.
	(v) The Schools Forum approved the universal supplement rate using 5% of funding based on IDACI ACORNdata.

45.

Early Years Funding - 3- & 4-Year-Old Funding PDF 94 KB

Carole Smith, Resources and Digital

Minutes:

The Forum received a report for the proposals for 3- & 4-year-old early years funding formulae for 2024/25.

The Local Authority have received an increase in funding of £0.47 per hour for the 3- & 4-year- olds, however, £0.04 of the increase relates to the mainstreaming of the Teachers Pay and Pension Grant (TPPG) for 2023/24.

The total estimated funding for 3- & 4-year-old early years funding is £12,537,638 both universal and extended hours, the allocation will be amended with January 2024 census information.

There will be an increase in the inclusion fund for 2024/25, the funds will be allocated on a different basis to better meet the needs of low levels and emerging SEND.

Approval was requested from Schools Forum to allocate the small amount of unspent inclusion funding for 2023/24 on inclusion training for all early year’s settings.

RESOLVED:	(i) The School Forum approved the updated 3- & 4- year old EYSFF factor values, approved the proposed use of unspent centrally held inclusion funding
	(ii) The School Forum notes further work will be undertaken on the allocation of inclusion funding allocation proposals for 2024/24.

46.

Early Years Funding - Under 2's PDF 102 KB

Carole Smith, Resources and Digital

Minutes:

The Forum received a report on the proposals made by the Early Years subgroup of Schools Forum on the allocation of the under 2-year-olds DSG funding from September 2024 for consultation with all early year’s settings.

The third meeting of the group on the 15th January 2024 discussed funding proposals for children under 2 of working parents and agreed proposals to be taken to Schools Forum for approval to enable the consultation with all early years settings to take place.

RESOLVED:

(i) The Schools Forum approved the proposed consultation document in appendix 1, together with the planned consultation period of 16 February 2024 to 1 March2024.

47.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Thursday 14^th March 2024 at 2pm via Microsoft Teams.