Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence received from Mark Barratt, Steve Haigh, Rebecca Matthews, Jacqui Ridley and Steve Wraith.

The Forum is asked to approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on 9 January 2025 and 16 January 2025.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2025 and 16 January 2025 were approved as a correct record.

Report by John Turvey, Resources and Digital.

The Forum received a report on quarter 3 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) projected outturn position for 2024/25.

The DSG budget for 2024/25 is £123.352 with a projected final outturn for the year of £126.993m an overspend of £3.641m. The High Needs Block is projected to overspend by £3.700m this is due to;

·         +£2.085m top ups

·         +£0.322m Support for Inclusion

·         +£1.244m Alternative Provisions Services

The balance of the DSG reserves on 31 March 2024 was £2.719m. Factoring in the in year overspend of £3.641m and the Early Years clawback for 2023/24 of £0.131m forecast to decrease the balance to -£1.054m at 31 March 2025.

RESOLVED:

i.                 The Schools Forum notes the report

Report by Carole Smith, Resource and Digital

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 9th January 2025, a total of 9 responses were received, but not all respondents answered all questions.

The results showed overall positive response to the proposals in the consultation.

There had been only one return that answered don’t know and there were no returns that disagreed with the questions.

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

RESOLVED:

i.                 The School Forum approved a single funding formula for both families requiring additional support (FRAS) 2-year-olds and 2 year olds of working parents.

ii.                The School Forum approved 4% top-slice to contribute to the early years funding team and the remainder to be added to the inclusion fund.

iii.               The School Forum approved a base rate of £7.27 per hour

iv.              The Schools Forum approved the universal supplement rate using 5% of funding to be allocated on  IDACI ACORN data.

Report by Carole Smith, Resources and Digital

The Forum received a report on the proposals for under 2 year old funding from April 2025.   

The Local Authority(LA) have received an increase in funding of £0.33 which has increased the funding to the LA to £10.79 . The LA can top slice early years funding by 4% for 2025/26 which is a reduction of 1% from 2024/25.

The total estimated funding for under 2-year-olds funding is £7.715m which will be updated in July 2025.

There is no proposed changes to the under 2-year-old formulae.

RESOLVED:

i.                 The School Forum approved the 4% top slice to contribute to early years funding team and the remainder o be added to the inclusion fund.

ii.                The School Forum approved the single funding rate for all settings of £10.358 per hour.

Report by Carole Smith, Resources and Digital

The Forum received a report for the proposals for 3- & 4-year-old early years funding formulae for 2025/26.

The Local Authority have received an increase in funding of £0.24 per hour for the 3- & 4-year- olds, however, some of the increase relates to the mainstreaming of the Teachers Pay and Pension Grant (TPPG) over the last 3 years.

The total estimated funding for 3- & 4-year-old early years funding is £12,803,926 both universal and extended hours.

Officers will continue to work on the allocation proposals for the inclusion fund, and it is anticipated that the funds will be allocated on a different basis to better meet the needs of low levels and emerging SEND. Any proposals will be subject to input and consultation with the sector and Schools Forum.

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 2025/26.

Report by Carole Smith, Resource and Digital

A report was brought to the Schools Forum to propose the allocation of funding to special schools and the pupil referral unit/alternative provision from April 2025 for the financial year 2025/26.

The DfE have stated that there will be a new Core School Budget Grant allocation that will increase funding to both special schools and alternative provision settings, therefore it has been proposed that there will be no increase to the special school top up rates for 2025/26 and the MFG will be set at 0% in line with mainstream school funding.

Residential funding will continue to decrease in 2025/26 with the expectation of the funding being completely removed for 2026/27.

Mainstream grants will remain the same for 2025/26, as these are historical grants they remain outside the remit of the new CSBG for 2025/26, therefore, the grants will remain a separate element of special schools and AP funding

RESOLVED:

i.                 That the Schools forum approves the special schools top up funding for 2025/26

ii.                That the Schools forum approves the phased removed of residential funding

Proposed Meeting Dates for 2025/26:

• Thursday 18^TH September at 2pm via Teams
• Thursday 6^th November at 2pm via Teams
• Thursday 11^th December at 2pm via Teams
• Thursday 15^th January at 2pm via Teams
• Thursday 12^th February at 2pm via Teams
• Thursday 12^th March at 2pm via Teams
• Thursday 7^th May at 2pm via Teams
• Thursday 9^th July at 2pm via Teams

The Forum was presented with the dates for the 2025/26 meetings.

December’s meeting date to be brought forward by one week.

RESOLVED:

i.              That the School Forum approves the dates.

The Forum received an update on the APT return from the DFG with a number of amendments to be made. The amendments are currently being actioned and investigated with the DFG.

Thursday 13 March 2025 at 2pm via Microsoft Teams

Thursday 13 March 2025 at 2pm via Microsoft Teams.