Agenda item

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

Consideration was given to a report of the Interim Assistant Director of Finance and Assistant Director of Education, which provided an update on the current DSG deficit position along with updates on the Delivering Better Value programme and the action plan to address spending pressures.

Members were informed that the cumulative DSG deficit for Tameside at the end of 2022-23 was £3.306m, after an in-year deficit of £0.063m.  It was explained that the High Needs element of the grant allocated by the DfE for 2023-24 was £37.144m.  A transfer from the Schools Block of £0.694m had been approved by Schools Forum, which had provided funds of £37.838m to support High Needs provision.  It was noted that, following the Summer 2023 term, where actual EHCP growth had outpaced predicted growth, the full-year spend was now estimated to be £43.716m, giving an in-year deficit of £5.876m.

It was explained that, whilst the High Needs Block in-year deficit had reduced in 2022-23, it was forecast to increase significantly in 2023-24 due to rapid growth in EHCPs across all provision types, which had not been matched with the same funding due to the cap on High Needs Block gains (7% for 2023-24).

An outline of the Delivering Better Value Programme was provided for Members and the 2 high impact areas for focus were highlighted as:

·       Inclusion – create an Inclusion Quality and Outreach Team, linked to existing Special Schools and Resource Provisions, and introduce a programme of training and workforce development (including parents and carers as appropriate).

·       Transitions – establish a new Early Years Assessment Centre with co-located wrap around services. The plan to improve the effectiveness and confidence surrounding transitions would also be supported through supporting the clearance of the backlog of annual reviews and identifying those pupils that may struggle at transition and providing early support.

It was noted that these high impact areas crossed over with a range of SEND improvements , which were also happening outside of the DBV programme, in particular the redesign of SEND Teams, review of the Specialist Outreach Support Team and SEND Sufficiency.

Members were reminded that an annual vote had taken place with the mainstream sector to transfer funds from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block fund and had been approved by Schools’ Forum in line with regulations.  For the 2023-24 academic year, it was noted that a Schools Block transfer of 0.345% or £0.694m had been agreed at Schools’ Forum and suggested that, for 2024-25, a Schools Block transfer of 0.5% would be considered as part of the NFF consultation with schools.

With regard to the Resource Base Review, Members were made aware that there was a proposal to establish 54 additional, local places in 2023-24, including the Early Years Assessment Centre, which would be part of the DBV programme and an overview of these proposed places was provided.  An increase of 86 commissioned places in special schools by the end of the 2023-24 academic year was also discussed.

It was suggested that potential further savings could be found through the contract review of a special school, which currently had a PFI style contract.  Members were informed that the outcome of this review would be considered at Executive Cabinet, with potential savings to the high Needs Block of an annual £320,970.

Members acknowledged that the High Needs Block deficit was a national issue and expressed concern that there needed to be a significant nations response.  It was noted that the DBV programme was providing valuable opportunities to work collaboratively and better assess how needs are managed,  It was noted that the right support needed to be provided in the right way at the right time and Members agreed that this was not simply an issue of creating additional specialist places but also about creating more effective provision across the mainstream sector.

RESOLVED

That the contents of the report be noted