Agenda item

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

Consideration was given to a report of the Assistant Director of Finance and Assistant Director of Education, outlining the High Needs’ budget position and updating members of the Forum on the High Needs’ Review.

As had been previously mentioned, the in-year deficit of £4.569m was highlighted.  However, it was explained that the DSG reserves of £4.012m had been fully utilised which had left a deficit against the overall DSG of £0.557m at the end of 2019-20.

The High Needs budget position was explained in terms of the final spend against the original budget across all sectors.  It was stated that there had been a growth in all sectors, particularly for Mainstream, which had seen a growth of 30.63%, Special with a growth of 10.35% and the Independent Sector, which had grown by 46.19%.

The Forum were made aware that Tameside was a net exporter of High Needs places and the latest data demonstrated that there were currently 181 pupils attending out of borough institutions with 68 pupils coming into Tameside schools and colleges.  This net of 113 places represented an increase compared to 80 net places for 2019-20.

With regard to the projected High Needs budget, it was explained that even with increases in funding of around 18% compared to 2019-20, this area of the budget was still forecasting an in-year deficit of £2.683m before growth and the overspend brought forward.  It was stated that this projection included estimated growth in demand at £2.971m.  Taking into account this growth, the deficit on the DSG of £0.557m and the Schools Block transfer of £0.850m into the High Needs Block, this would still leave a projected deficit on the overall DSG budget of £5.361m.  It was made clear that these figures had been based on growth in demand for plans and had not yet taken into account any impact of the High Needs Review.

With regard to the projected growth in Education Health Care Plans, the latest figures showed that growth had slowed slightly from around 30 new plans per month to around 24 plans.  However, it was stated that this could still result in further growth of approximately 280 plans in the 2020-21 financial year, at a cost of £2.971m.  This would suggest there would be 3.94% of pupils with Education Health Care Plans meaning that Tameside would have one of the higher rates across Greater Manchester authorities.

It was discussed that initial meetings had taken place with the School Funding Group, where the following areas were discussed:

·         Review of the current funding model to gain an understanding of how it was calculated initially;

·         Understanding the costs involved from schools in supporting pupils with specific needs;

·         Researching other funding models across Greater Manchester;

·         Establishing principles for the new model; and

·         Identifying and agreeing a new or revised finding model.

It was outlined that this project would be a joint project led by both the SEND and Finance teams, and would involve engagement, consultation and liaison with all relevant parties.  This would include head-teachers, business managers, governors, SEND leads, parents and Parent Forums. It was explained that work on this was already underway and should be complete by the end of the financial year, with a view to introducing the new rates from April 2021.

RESOLVED

That the content of the report be noted and supported.