Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest from Members of Schools’ Forum

There were no declarations of interest from Members of the Board.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting of Schools’ Forum, which was held on 19 January 2023

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting of Schools Forum, which was held on 19 January 2022.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting of Schools Forum, which was held on 19 January 2022, 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 Assistant Director, Education, which set out arrangements for the Dedicated Schools’ Grant (DSG) Early Years Funding for 2023-24.

Members were made aware that consultation had been launched for the period 1 February 2023 until 15 February 2023, in order to gather opinions on the proposals set out in the report.  The proposals for 2023-24 were outlined as follows:

·       To introduce a Teachers’ Pay & Pensions Grant (TPPG) Supplement, for the immediate purpose of replicating the Teacher Pay & Pension Grant that had been received by maintained primary schools and primary academies delivering the 3 and 4 year old entitlement. This Supplement would extend to other providers (PVI providers) that had not previously received the Grant and could now be eligible, where they employ a qualified teacher and pay the employer’s National Teacher Pensions contribution (currently 23.68%). It was proposed to fund this Supplement to eligible providers at a rate of £0.23 per hour for 3 and 4 year old’s in 2023-24.

·       That providers would be eligible for this Supplement in 2023-24, if they received Teacher Pension Grant funding in 2022-23, or if they evidenced to the Authority that employed a qualified teacher, who would directly deliver the 3 & 4 year old early years entitlement (the Early Years Foundation Stage), and that pays the national employer’s contribution to Teacher Pensions (currently 23.68%).

It was noted that, due to the late stage at which the rolling in of the Teachers’ Pay and Pensions Grants into the Early Years Funding Formula had been announced, the proposed supplement was intended to replicate the grants as closely as practically possible. It was further explained that this was to prevent the adverse impact of any providers seeing a reduction in funding.

It was proposed that the Special Education Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF) would be increased to £500k for 3 and 4 year olds and approximately £66k for 2 year olds.  It was also noted that the demands for SENIF support from providers and seen significant growth and that work with Early Years providers would continue, in order to ensure that there was a clear and robust criteria for allocating this funding.

It was proposed that the hourly rate of funding for 3 and 4 year olds would increase from £4.35 to £4.49, with 5% retained centrally.  It was also proposed that the hourly rate of funding for 2 year olds be increased from £5.40 (£0.14 retained centrally) to £5.46 (£0.14 to continue to be retained centrally) and confirmed that the £0.14 per hour for central retention had been previously agreed by Schools Forum.

Furthermore, Members were made aware that the allocation rate for Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) had increased from £0.60 to £0.62 per hour, per eligible pupil, up to a maximum of 570 hours and that the allocation rate for Disability Access Fund (DAF) had increased from £800 to £828.

Responses to the consultation were shared with Members and it was noted that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

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, Education, which provided Members of Schools’ Forum with a forward plan of reports and meeting dates for the financial year 2023-24

Meeting dates were confirmed as follows:

Tuesday 7 March 2023                       Remote Meeting

Tuesday 20 June 2023                      Remote Meeting

Tuesday 26 September 2023             Remote Meeting

Tuesday 28 November 2023              Remote Meeting

Thursday 18 January 2024                 Dukinfield Town Hall

It was noted that, whilst these dates had been agreed, they were subject to change and that Members would be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

RESOLVED

That the contents of the report be noted.

To note that the date of the next meeting of Schools’ Forum will be 20 June 2023

RESOLVED

That the next meeting of The Schools Forum be held remotely on 20 June 2023 at 10am.