Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest from members of Schools’ Forum.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider the minutes of the meeting of Schools’ Forum held on 29 September 2020.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting of the School’s Forum, held on 29 September 2020.  It was noted that Minute 8, DSG Budget update for 2020-21 and Early Years Outturn position 2019-20, referred to a projected deficit of £0.466m for the Early Years Block.  However, this should have referred to a projected surplus of £0.466m.

RESOLVED

That, with the amendment stated above, the minutes of the meeting of Schools’ Forum held on 29 September 2020 be approved as a correct record.

To consider the attached report of the Assistant Director, Finance and the Assistant Director, Education.

Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Director of Finance and the Assistant Director of Education.  The report outlined the work streams proposed to address the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) High Needs deficit.  It was highlighted that these strands of work had been discussed at previous meetings of Schools’ Forum and that these proposals would be included in the DSG Management Plan to the DfE, outlining the recovery proposals.

Members of the Forum were reminded that, under the 2020/21 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) conditions, paragraph 5.2 required that any local authority with an overall deficit on the DSG account at the end of the financial year 2019/20 or whose DSG surplus had substantially reduced during the year, must present a plan to the DfE for managing their future spend. 

Reference was made to previous discussion at Schools Forum on 29 September 2020, where members had previously indicated that they would be minded to support a 1% transfer from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block and that a disapplication request must be submitted to the Secretary of State in order to facilitate this. 

The plan set out the proposed actions to address the deficit, which, as reported in the September 2020 meeting of Schools Forum, was forecast to be £3.638m.  Details of the plan and an outline of the measures to mitigate this deficit were presented.

With regard to funding, it was proposed that, subject to the approval of Schools’ Forum, a 0.5% transfer from the Schools Block be made to the High Needs Block, with a further transfer of 0.5% to be requested, subject to Secretary of State approval, assuming that this could be achieved in adherence to the NFF funding bands.  The final element of this funding proposal anticipated that future funding from the DfE would be provided, with the removal of the significant cap on funding (£3.1m for Tameside).

In addition, it was stated that a detailed review of services funded from the High Needs Block was underway, which was expected to realise financial savings.  Areas under review included Sensory Support Services and Specialist SEND Services.  Alongside this, it was also highlighted that there were currently 2 specialist posts, currently funded inappropriately from the High Needs Block.  As both of these post solely supported the Early Years agenda, it was explained that they would be funded from the Council’s centrally retained element going forwards.

Members of the Forum were made aware that a review of Element 3, top-up funding was underway.  It was explained that the financial implications of this had not been fully considered at this stage as a banding model was being developed, which focused on the provision needed to support the pupils need rather than funding the type of need.  With this in mind, a Matching Provision to Need (MPTN) document had been developed by the SEND team and would be fully consulted upon moving forwards.

As previously discussed at Schools Forum, it was explained that a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To consider the attached report of the Assistant Director, Finance and the Assistant Director, Education.

Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Director of Finance and the Assistant Director of Education with regard to Schools Block Funding for 2021-22.

It was explained that a consultation on the proposals of this report had been circulated to all schools and Chairs of Governing Bodies.  Due to the timing of this consultation, the results had not previously been published.  However, a briefing paper outlining the results was shared with members of the Forum in advance of the meeting and a summary was provided.

The consultation was launched on 22 October 2020 and closed on 11 November 2020.  There were 21 respondents in total.  However, 2 of the respondents did not state which school they were from so had been discounted .  In addition, there were also 2 schools in which 2 responses were received (both providing the same response).  As a result, the response rate was reduced to 17 schools from a potential 98 (17% response rate).

The results of the consultation are detailed below:

Q1.  Do you support a 0.5% transfer from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block (as agreed in principle with Schools Forum) whilst adopting NFF 2021-22 rates and accepting a 0.5% MFG and 3.21% Gains Cap?

Q2.  Do you support increasing the transfer to 1%, if we were still able to adopt the NFF rates for 2021-22, and obtain approval from the Secretary of State through the disapplication process?

The provisional allocation for 2021-22 was shared with Forum members and allocations were compared with the 2020-21 position.  It was highlighted that, of the £12.5m increase on the Schools Block, £7.5m related to the Teachers’ Pay and Pension Grant, which had been rolled into DSG funding.  It was further explained that this £7.5m was protected and must be passed directly on to schools, with the remaining £5m increase representing a 3% increase on 2020-21 cash levels.

Forum members were informed that there were increases in funding across all blocks for Tameside MBC, which was positive.  However, it was also highlighted that the pressures on High Needs exceeded the increase that the LA is set to receive.  With regard to this High Needs pressure, it was explained that Tameside had received the maximum provisional funding increase possible, capped at 12% (before Import/Export adjustments and Recoupment).  However, without this cap at 12%, Tameside would have received an additional £3.1m in 2021-22 and, for context, it was highlighted that the 2020-21 cap was £2.6m.

As previously reported, the estimated position on High Needs for 2020-21 was an in-year overspend of £3.543m.  It was explained that this was after the £0.85m transfer from the Schools Block (the position would have been an in-year overspend of £4.393m without the transfer).  Members were informed that, in 2021-22, whilst the additional increased funding was welcomed, it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

RESOLVED

That the next meeting of The Schools Forum be held on Thursday 14 January 2021 at 10am.