Using the reports presented under agenda items 9, 10 and 11, as well as the additional Document GJ, the Business Advisor (Schools) will explain the planned creation of additional SEND places (an additional 120 places in each of the next 3 academic years), how these are to be funded from the High Needs Block and the wider implications on the DSG. It is understood that the Schools Forum will wish to fully consider all implications of what has been presented and will make final recommendations on the allocation of the 2017/18 DSG in January 2017. The Schools Forum is asked to give its outline agreement now however, for the first set of 120 places to be funded from the High Needs Block, to enable these places to be established for January 2017.

Recommended –

The Schools Forum is asked for its outline agreement for the first tranche of additional SEND places to be funded from the High Needs Block, from January 2017 and on an on-going basis.

         (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

Referring to the reports presented under agenda items 9, 10 and 11, as well as the additional Document GJ, the Business Advisor (Schools) explained the planned creation of additional SEND places (an additional 120 places in each of the next 3 academic years), how these were to be funded from the High Needs Block and the wider implications on the DSG.

He explained that it is understood that the Schools Forum will wish to fully consider all implications of what has been presented and would wish to make final recommendations on the allocation of the 2017/18 DSG in the round in January 2017. Members are asked to give their outline agreement now however, for the first set of 120 places to be funded from the High Needs Block, to enable these places to be established for January 2017, at an estimated cost of £0.63m for the period January to March 2017 and then £2.52m for a full year (using an estimated cost of £21,000 per place). He explained that these places would be established in interim satellite provisions managed by special schools.

The Strategic Manager, SEND and Behaviour, emphasised the very pressing need to establish the 1^st tranche of 120 places. She also made reference to work taking place to deliver efficiencies within the High Needs Block, which would support the identification of more resource to fund an increased quantity of places.  The Chair welcomed this reference to value for money and the work that has been done to enable this firm intention to establish additional places to be presented to the meeting today. The Chair also stated that it was important that we do not lose sight of the need for places in both SEND and behaviour provisions and that the work that is taking place around SEND also be completed for behaviour. The Deputy Director, Education, Employment and Skills, stated that it is expected that review work on behaviour will move quickly.

The Vice Chair suggested that it would be helpful if the Forum knew a bit more about the plans for the establishment of the 120 places. The Strategic Manager explained that much of this was still under negotiation, but that 5 different settings have been identified. Diligent work has been carried out by the Authority to ensure that these places will be established in the correct locations and under secure satellite management arrangements. She added that there has been no shortage of willingness from special schools to co-operate and participate in this work. The Deputy Director added that the schools have been fantastic over this issue.

In the discussion that followed Members asked the following questions and made the following comments:

• Information was presented to the recent DAP meeting stating that the number of referrals for EHCPs had increased in the District by 97% over the last 2 years.
• How will the 120 places be filled; where will the pupils come from; are these currently in mainstream settings? The Chair responded to say that SEN had presented to the DAP the position that 86 children are currently in mainstream provisions with EHCPs identifying the need for special school place, but it was not necessarily the case that all the 120 will come from mainstream. The Chair also offered his analysis of what has happened / is happening across the country regarding special school places; that there has been an historic reduction in the number of special school places (>1,000 places fewer), the numbers have stabilised over the last 5 years, but now there has been a growth in need, which is driving applications for new special free schools. Bradford needs to move in the direction of developing specialisms within our special school provisions (new free schools) so that our generic special schools can support children currently placed in mainstream settings.
• The budgets of mainstream schools are currently on a knife-edge and there is danger that more funding is removed from mainstream budgets more quickly than pupil transition to specialist places, giving schools a ‘double-problem’. The Chair responded to say that there will be a movement of both funding and children out of mainstream following the principle that funding follows the child. However, in terms of the movement of money between the DSG Blocks, we potentially have a final window of opportunity in 2017/18, before National Funding Formula, to move money into the High Needs Block up front to begin to address our sufficiency of provision issues. Any increase in our High Needs Block under NFF is not certain and could possibly be 4 or 5 years away.
• Work needs to take place to address the sufficiency of ESBD places; the pressure is not just in SEND. This pressure needs to be included in discussions about the development of new free school provision.
• The transparency of the application of the funding Ranges Model needs to be looked at, where the level of funding of a pupil jumps when placed in a special school from a mainstream setting.
• What is the 120 / 360 places as a % of current numbers? The Business Advisor confirmed that we have currently approximately 2,000 places funded from the High Needs Block, or which 1,000 are in special schools.
• A Member expressed concern that the growth in special school places will lead to a less inclusive model. The Chair respond to say that mainstream has become a very challenging environment and that the growth in special school places is a national priority and phenomenon. Government has not provided any strong policy statement on this. A Member added that data shows that Bradford is not becoming less inclusive; it is the level of need that is growing so that the needs of an increasing number of pupils cannot be met appropriately in a mainstream environment. Mainstream is not becoming a less inclusive environment.
• In considering decisions about funding (and moving further amounts from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block) we must also be mindful of the impact reduced mainstream budgets will have on the life chances of mainstream pupils.
• The Vice Chair reminded Members that the position of the sufficiency of high needs places was presented to the Education Improvement Strategy Board earlier this year. The Strategic Director, Children’s Services, stated that this presentation has helped the Authority’s political leadership to understand the situation and how we respond.

A Member asked for clarity on the % reduction that would be needed from the Schools Block (primary and secondary school funding formulae) to fund the 120 places and asked whether this decision was committing the Forum to the 1.5% reduction that is shown in the primary and secondary consultation document in 2017/18. The Business Advisor (Schools) stated that the 1.5% reduction is also seeking to finance the 2^nd tranche of places from September 2017, as well as other cost pressures within the High Needs Block. As such, the % reduction that is needed specifically to fund the 1^st tranche of 120 places is lower than this. We would also be looking to use reserve / one off monies to finance the proportion of cost relating to the period January to March 2017. However, in taking the decision the Forum would be accepting a level of contribution from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block in 2017/18. The Business Advisor initially estimated that a reduction of 0.95% would be needed to fund the 1^st tranche of places in 2017/18, but he revised this down to an estimated 0.69%, stressing that this is a very rough calculation.

The Chair suggested that a final decision on the funding of the 120 places be postponed until after item 13 on the agenda has been presented. Please see the notes of the discussion recorded under the next item.

Resolved –

The Schools Forum agrees for the first tranche of additional SEND places to be funded from the High Needs Block from January 2017 and on an on-going basis as set out in Document GI.

Action:           Business Advisor (Schools)