Agenda and draft minutes

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

There were no declarations of interest from Members of Schools’ Forum.

To consider the minutes of the meeting of Schools’ Forum held on 28 November 2023

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting of the School’s Forum, which was held on 28 November 2024

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting of Schools’ Forum, which was held on 28 November 2024 be approved as a correct record.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Resources (S151 Officer) and Assistant Director of Education

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Resources (S151 Officer) and Assistant Director of Education, which provided an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget position for the financial year 2023-24.

Members were made aware that there was a forecast surplus of £0.016m on the Schools Block, which related to unallocated growth of £0.018m.  It was noted that this was slightly offset by academy conversion adjustments of £0.002m. 

It was explained that the Central School Services Block was expected to be spent in full and that there was a forecast in-year deficit on the High Needs Block, expected to be £6.178m, which would  reduce to £5.484m with the £0.694m transfer from the Schools Block. 

In relation to the Early Years Block, Members were informed that there was a forecast surplus of £0.737m.  It was suggested that this would be partially offset by a forecast deficit on the Early Years Supplementary Grant (EYSG) of £0.059m and noted that there would be a further adjustment following Spring term census data. 

A reduction in participation rates for 3 to 4 years olds was noted and this was explained as being mainly due to the reducing birth rate.  It was explained that Tameside was seeing a high level of take up (approx.. 97%).  Estimates suggested that universal uptake was reducing but after a previous upwards shift in extended entitlement, there was an estimated reduction in uptake in the spring term.

Members noted that there had been a gradual increase in 2 year old participation and, as a result of this, revised estimates for the spring term, showed an increase in expected uptake and, therefore, an increase in the distribution of funding.

Members were made aware that the Early Years Supplementary Grant (EYSG) had been updated to reflect the actual distribution of funding for the Autumn term and estimated distribution, based on estimated participation, for the Spring Term. 

With regard to the Early Years Teachers Pay Grant, Members were informed that the amount for Tameside was £0.070m.  This allocation was based on part time equivalent (PTE) data from the January 2023 early years, schools and alternative provision censuses and there would be no adjustment to the allocation.  It was explained that this was also subject to conditions of grant and it was  to be determined how this funding will be allocated to providers

With regard to the High Needs forecast position, Members were made aware that the year-end forecast was showing an in-year deficit of £5.484m, this represented an adverse movement of £0.393m, when compared to the forecast position reported in November 2023.

It was explained that the Growth forecast had been updated and reviewed following the real time exercise for the autumn term and that there had been spend to date of £1.249m.  A further £0.474m of Growth was also expected over the next 3 months to year-end.  This was based on the assumption that the number of EHCPs being issued would continue at a similar level to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Resources (S151 Officer) and Assistant Director of Education

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Resources (S151 Officer) and Assistant Director of Education, which outlined the arrangements concerning DSG funding for 2024-25.

Members were made aware that the £283.251m provisional DSG settlement for 2024-25 was received on 19 December 2023 and noted that all DSG funding must be deployed to schools and/or pupils in accordance with the School and Early Years Finance (England) Regulations 2023.  A detailed breakdown of the provisional settlement for each of the 4 blocks was provided, which provided a comparison with 2023-24 settlement figures.

It was noted that the Schools Block settlement was made up of the following elements of funding and that Tameside continued to use National Funding Formula (NFF) rates for allocation of Schools Block funding:

Members were informed that PFI funding continued to be delegated to the relevant schools with the delegated figures based on historic factor funding and uplifted by RPIX of 10.4%.  Following a review of affordability  of  PFI services, in 2022-23, it was explained that there was a reduction to the PFI Affordability Factor of £0.263m.  However, due to significant inflationary increases over the last 12 months, the affordability had since been reviewed again and required this contribution to be reinstated at the inflated rate.  This had resulted in £0.324m being added back into this factor.  However, Members were made aware that, in 2024-25 the LA would continue to recover the full, delegated PFI Affordability factor as in previous years

It was explained that business rates were funded to the equivalent value of the business rates charge for 2024- 25.  It was noted that this funding was estimated and would be removed from Tameside’s allocations and retained by the DfE, who would pay this directly to Tameside MBC on behalf of all Tameside Schools and Academies.

Members were made aware that, in 2024-25 LAs would be able to set the Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) between +0% and +0.5% per pupil.  With this in mind, Members were reminded that, in the Schools Forum paper in November 2023, the proposals were to include a 0.5% MFG which is the rate at which MFG has been set.  In addition, it was confirmed that, for 2024-25, there would be no gains cap as per the proposal in the November Schools Forum paper

Members noted that the estimated Growth Fund required in 2024-25 was £0.170m.  It was explained that there was no implicit growth in 2024-25 as schools, which were previously ‘new’ now had all year groups occupied.  Members acknowledged that final growth allocations to schools would be based on actual numbers, which would be taken from the October 2024 census (up to a maximum of the agreed growth pupil numbers).

The Growth Policy was explained and it was stated that, where a school had agreed planned growth, there should be a minimum of 5  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

To note that the next meeting of School’s Forum is to be held remotely on 5 March 2024

RESOLVED

That the next meeting of The Schools Forum be held remotely on 5 March 2024 at 9.45am

CHAIR