The Director of Legal and Governance (Monitoring Officer)will report the names of alternate Members who are attending the meeting in place of appointed Members.

To receive disclosures of interests from Members on matters to be considered at the meeting. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it only becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

The following members declared interests for agenda item 5 (Growth Fund allocations): Ian Morrel, Helen Williams, Ashley Reed.

The Business Advisor (Schools) reported on progress made on “Action” items from the 7 December meeting. He reported that:

·         Item 643 (Schools Block Growth Fund) – we are re-presenting to this meeting, under agenda item 5, now fully confirmed Growth Fund allocations for 2022/23.

·         Item 644 (Early Years Block) – The Early Years Block settlement and operational guidance was finally announced on 16 December and this is presented under agenda item 6.

The Business Advisor then reported the following:

·         On 16 December, the DfE announced a new additional grant for mainstream primary and secondary schools and academies, termed the Mainstream Schools Additional Grant (MSAG). This is a non-ring-fenced grant. A primary focus of the Grant is providing on-going support for energy costs, replacing the government’s current energy protection scheme, which reduces in scale and scope at the end of March 2023. As such, schools will need to assess the extent to which this Grant constitutes ‘new money’ into their budgets, or just replaces existing energy costs financial support. There is a link to the DfE’s announcement on MSAG available via BSO latest news and updates.

·         In the DSG settlement for 2023/24, that was announced on 16 December 2022, an additional £400m of High Needs Block funding has been allocated to local authorities. This comes from the additional £2bn for the national schools budget that was announced by the Chancellor on 17 November 2022. Bradford’s share of the £400m is £4.76m. This is allocated into our High Needs Block, mostly for us to use according to local circumstances and pressures. An additional DSG Condition of Grant however, has been established by the DfE. The purpose of the Condition is to require local authorities to pass through to Special Schools, Special School Academies, PRUs and Alternative Provision Academies an additional + 3.4% in funding per place, using a proportion of the £4.76m to do so. The increase is set at 3.4%, as this is the average additional % increase in funding that mainstream primary and secondary schools and academies are receiving via the new Mainstream Schools Additional Grant (MSAG). We present estimated details of this allocation under agenda item 10.

·         Also on the 16 December, the DfE confirmed that Pupil Premium Grant rates of funding for 2023/24 are increasing, by 5.00% (rounded). These increases are reflected in the indicative modelling that is presented to the Forum at this meeting.

·         So far, we cannot see that the DfE has announced the post-16 funding settlement for the 2023/24 academic year.

Resolved –

(1)       That progress made on “Action” items and Matters Arising be noted.

(2)       That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2022 be signed as a correct record.

Members will be asked to consider any issues raised by schools.

A member representing maintained primary school headteachers asked for information on how many primary schools are reducing their Published Admission Numbers (PANs) this year.

Resolved –

That information be provided on how many schools have reduced their Published Admission Number (PAN) this year.

As presented in Document PJ, Forum Members are asked to agree newly proposed allocations, from the 2022/23 Schools Block Growth Fund, to maintained secondary schools and secondary academies. Document PJ replaces Document PA, which was presented on 7 December. The three allocations that were estimated in Document PA are now confirmed.

Recommended –

(1)       The Schools Forum is asked to agree to allocate a total of £590,715 from the Growth Fund in 2022/23 to maintained secondary schools and secondary academies, as set out in Document PJ.

(2)       Members are asked to note that an indicative total sum of £1,319,606 of surplus balance of Growth Fund is ring-fenced and is forecasted to be carried forward into 2023/24 within the Schools Block.

As presented by the Principal Finance Officer, in Document PJ, Forum Members were asked to agree proposed allocations, from the 2022/23 Schools Block Growth Fund, to maintained secondary schools and to secondary academies. These allocations were agreed. Members did not have any comments and did not ask any questions.

Resolved –

(1)       The Schools Forum agreed to allocate a total of £590,715 from the Growth Fund in 2022/23 to maintained secondary schools and secondary academies, as set out in Document PJ.

(2)       Members noted that an indicative total sum of £1,319,606 of surplus balance of Growth Fund is ring-fenced and is forecasted to be carried forward into 2023/24 within the Schools Block.

LEAD:            Principal Finance Officer, Schools

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document PK, which presents the Authority’s consultation on proposals for Bradford’s 2023/24 Early Years Single Funding Formula. This consultation will go live immediately following this meeting and will have a closing date for responses of 6 February 2023.

This consultation follows from discussions in the 7 December Schools Forum meeting about the knock on implications for our decision making timetable of the late publication by the DfE of the 2023/24 Early Years Block settlement and operational guidance. These were published by the DfE on 16 December.

Recommended –

The Forum is asked for its formal feedback on the proposals. Members are asked to provide their feedback under agenda item 12. The outcomes of the consultation will be presented to the Forum on 8 March. However, this will be after Council has taken its final decisions on DSG arrangements for 2023/24 on 23 February.

Members are asked to note that the recommended allocation of the 2023/24 Early Years Block, and Early Years Single Funding Formula arrangements, presented to this meeting are put forward on the basis that the Authority’s proposals are implemented. Any variance from this in the final arrangements, as agreed by Council, including changes as result of consultation feedback, will be presented to the Forum on 8 March.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document PK, which presented the Authority’s consultation on proposals for Bradford’s 2023/24 Early Years Single Funding Formula. It was explained, subject to the Forum’s agreement, that this consultation will go live immediately following this meeting and will have a closing date for responses of 6 February 2023. The Business Advisor explained that this consultation follows from discussions in the 7 December Schools Forum meeting about the knock on implications for our decision making timetable of the late publication by the DfE of the 2023/24 Early Years Block settlement and operational guidance. These were published by the DfE on 16 December. The Early Years Working Group will meet on 16 January.

The Business Advisor explained to the Forum how our Early Years Block settlement for 2023/24 is extremely disappointing. He explained that a 1% settlement, at a time of significantly increasing costs, will create a very challenging financial environment for early years providers across the District. It is disappointing that the DfE has fully implemented the proposals that were set out for consultation in the summer, without adjustment (despite our response), and also that, despite additional funding being made available nationally for early years funding (as a result of the 17 November Autumn Statement), Bradford’s settlement has remained at 1%, which is the lowest settlement that is being received by local authorities in 2023/24.

Members did not have any significant comments on our EYSFF proposals. The Forum offered its support for these and agreed for the consultation document to be published. The member representing maintained nursery school governors suggested, and it was agreed, that it would be better (and more accurate) for the new ‘Quality’ Supplement to be re-worded to be called e.g. the ‘Teacher Pensions Employer’s Contribution Supplement’.

Resolved –

(1)       That the information presented in Document PK be noted.

(2)       That the Schools Forum supports the proposals for the Early Years Single Funding Formula for 2023/24 that the Authority puts forward within the consultation document.

(3)       That the document (Appendix 1) be published and that a consultation takes place with providers, as set out in Document PK.

LEAD:            Business Advisor, Schools

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document PL, which updates Forum Members on the position of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the 2023/24 financial year. This is a main reference document for this meeting.

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to note the information provided. This will inform decisions and recommendations to be made under agenda item 12.

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document PL, which updated Forum Members on the position of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the 2023/24 financial year. This is a main reference document for this meeting.

Members did not have any comments and did not ask any questions.

Resolved –

That the information presented in Document PL be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present statements, Document PM Appendices 1 and 2, which update Forum Members on the forecasted spending positions of each of the DSG Blocks for 2022/23, on the estimated values of balances to be carried forward into 2023/24, and on the proposed uses of these balances.

These statements replace the initial indicative forecasts that were presented to the Schools Forum on 7 December (in Document PG).

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to note the information provided. This will inform decisions and recommendations to be made under agenda item 12.         

                                                                          (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented statements, Document PM Appendices 1 and 2, which updated Forum Members on the forecasted spending positions of each of the DSG Blocks for 2022/23, on the estimated values of balances to be carried forward into 2023/24, and on the proposed uses of these balances. These statements replaced the initial indicative forecasts that were presented to the Schools Forum on 7 December (in Document PG).

Members did not have any comments and did not ask any questions.

Resolved –

That the information presented in Document PM be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present statements, Document PN Appendices 1, 2 and 3, which set out proposed Schools Block, Central Schools Services Block and Early Years Block centrally managed and de-delegated funds for the 2023/24 financial year.

The statements at Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 replace the indicative information that was presented to the Schools Forum on 7 December (in Document PI).

Appendix 3 newly presents the contributions to be made by each maintained primary and secondary school to de-delegated funds held within the Schools Block and how these compare with the contributions made in 2022/23.

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to note the information provided. This will inform decisions and recommendations to be made under agenda item 12.         

         (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented statements, Document PN Appendices 1, 2 and 3, which set out proposed Schools Block, Central Schools Services Block and Early Years Block centrally managed and de-delegated funds for the 2023/24 financial year. The statements at Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 replaced the indicative information that was presented to the Schools Forum on 7 December (in Document PI). Appendix 3 newly presented the contributions to be made by each maintained primary and secondary school to de-delegated funds held within the Schools Block and how these compare with the contributions made in 2022/23.

A member representing maintained primary school headteachers asked why further funding is being taken from the 2023/24 Schools Budget for the Growth Fund, when £1.3m is being carried forward. The Business Advisor (Schools) responded to explain that the value of new budget being taken is reduced, but that the Authority’s view is that we would wish to see how the expected new flexibilities, in Growth and Falling Rolls funding as a result of National Funding Formula changes in 2024/25, could be used, in particular to support the primary-phase, before committing the Growth Fund balance (as well as the Falling Rolls Fund balance) elsewhere to more general formula spending.

The member also asked about the position of funding maintained schools for exceptional circumstances, including supporting the financial difficulties that they may face in 2023/24. The Business Advisor explained that the only route for such funding for maintained schools is via a de-delegated fund, and, as members can see in the reports, the Authority does not hold much funding. It would not be permitted to use Growth Fund or Falling Rolls fund balances to support budget pressures in just maintained schools, as academies have contributed to these balances too. There is no mechanism for the Authority to allocate exceptional funding to academies (academies would need to apply to the ESFA). So, although these matters can be considered further, the extent to which the DSG can offer additional widespread financial support for increased levels of financial challenge is very limited.

The member also asked about the proposal to continue the de-delegated fund for the replacement of the School Improvement Monitoring and Brokering Grant (SIMB). The Business Advisor confirmed that the SIMB Grant will fully cease at the 31 March 2023. He also confirmed that the de-delegated fund pays for the additional cost of school-to-school improvement support, rather than covering the salaries costs of the Authority’s school improvement officers.

Resolved –

That the information presented in Document PN be noted.

The Principal Finance Officers (Schools) and the Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document PO, with Appendices 1-6.

Appendices 1a, 1b and 1c show the indicative values of allocations to be delegated to individual primary and secondary maintained schools and academies within the Schools Block.

Appendix 1d provides an analysis of the change in cost of Schools Block formula funding following the use of the data collected in / based on the October 2022 Census. Modelling previously presented to the Forum has been based on October 2021 Census data.

Appendices 2a, 2b and 2c show the proposed indicative rates of funding for early years settings for the 2023/24 financial year. These rates are shown, prior to the completion of the consultation on our Early Years Single Funding Formula (which closes on 6 February).

Appendix 3 provides a more detailed analysis of how the High Needs Block planned budget has been constructed at individual setting level. Please note that Appendix 3 does not show the values of allocations that high needs providers will actually receive in 2023/24 (as these will be based on monthly occupancy during the year).

Appendices 4 and 5 show the draft Primary and Secondary and Early Years pro-formas, which summarise the Authority’s proposed formula funding arrangements. Please note that these pro-formas are subject to the final decisions and recommendations to be made by the Schools Forum, under agenda item 12, as well as to the finalisation of our early years funding arrangements, following the closure of the consultation.

Appendix 6 provides more details of the additional place-led allocations to Special Schools, Special School Academies, PRUs and AP Academies, as directed by the DfE’s change in DSG Grant Conditions that was announced on 16 December.

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to note the information provided. This will inform decisions and recommendations to be made under agenda item 12. 

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Principal Finance Officers (Schools) and the Business Advisor (Schools) presented the report, Document PO, with Appendices 1-6.

Appendices 1a, 1b and 1c showed the indicative values of allocations to be delegated to individual primary and secondary maintained schools and academies within the Schools Block.

Appendix 1d provided an analysis of the change in cost of Schools Block formula funding following the use of the data collected in / based on the October 2022 Census. Modelling previously presented to the Forum has been based on October 2021 Census data.

Appendices 2a, 2b and 2c showed the proposed indicative rates of funding for early years settings for the 2023/24 financial year. These rates were shown, prior to the completion of the consultation on our Early Years Single Funding Formula (which closes on 6 February). Appendix 3 provides a more detailed analysis of how the High Needs Block planned budget has been constructed at individual setting level.

Appendices 4 and 5 showed the draft Primary and Secondary and Early Years pro-formas, which summarise the Authority’s proposed formula funding arrangements.

Appendix 6 provided more details of the additional place-led allocations to Special Schools, Special School Academies, PRUs and AP Academies, as directed by the DfE’s change in DSG Grant Conditions that was announced on 16 December.

Members did not have any comments and did not ask any questions on this modelling.

Resolved –

That the information presented in Document PO be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document PP, which is an update of the Authority’s Management Plan for the Dedicated Schools Grant. This Plan was first presented to the Schools Forum in January 2021.

The Plan explains the general management principles that guide our decision making and then focuses on High Needs Block matters. Alongside this Plan is presented a list of specialist places planned to be commissioned in 2023/24 and a future year forecast of the High Needs Block.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) now expects that every authority will present to their Forums a Management Plan, which explains their DSG‘s financial position, the risks of overspending and deficit, and the actions that an authority is taking either for deficit avoidance or for deficit recovery, as appropriate. The plan should include benchmarking and demand-led data, to provide context to the financial picture and which enables a focus to be retained on value for money. A plan is specifically required where an authority’s DSG account is in deficit. In these circumstances, an authority is required to submit its plan to the ESFA. This is not the case in Bradford, as our DSG account is in surplus.

Recommended –

The Forum is asked to note the information provided. This will inform decisions and recommendations to be made under agenda item 12. 

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document PP, which was an updated version of the Authority’s Management Plan for the Dedicated Schools Grant. This Plan was first presented to the Schools Forum in January 2021. The Plan explains the general management principles that guide our decision making and then focuses on High Needs Block matters. Alongside this Plan was presented a list of specialist places planned to be commissioned in 2023/24 and a future year forecast of the High Needs Block.

In summarising the Plan, the Business Advisor explained that our forecast, which is based on estimates, currently identifies that there is clear risk of a cumulative deficit building within our High Needs Block by the end of the 2025/26 financial year, as a result of recurrent structural in-year over spending. The risk of cumulative deficit by the end of the 2026/27 financial year is then high. As such, our forecast identifies at this time that mitigating action will need to be taken in order to prevent the accrual of a cumulative deficit balance. This will be a piece of work for the Authority to discuss within the Schools Forum during 2023.

The Forum engaged in discussion about the growth in spending on placements in independent and non-maintained settings; the causes and how this can be controlled and reduced. The Assistant Director, SEND and Inclusion, explained that the cost of places has significantly increased, especially around social care, where the DSG picks up the education cost element. The continuing creation of local specialist places, as well as success in our bid for a new Special School Free School, are important factors. The Business Advisor added that the growth in spending on independent placements has also come from significant increases in charges per place, and is a national issue, which looms large within the DfE’s March 2022 SEND Green Paper. This Paper offers elements of a national solution e.g. bringing independent schools into a national EHCP banded funding system.

The Chair asked for clarification on where decision making within the High Needs Block sits – with the Schools Forum or with the Authority. It was clarified that the Authority is the decision maker, but also that the Authority would wish to work in partnership with the Schools Forum. The Chair asked then that the Authority presents to the Forum, for discussion, its mitigation plan for the avoidance of a cumulative High Needs Block deficit. The Assistant Director, SEND and Inclusion, responded to explain that the key elements of a mitigation plan are: continuing to increase the number of locally available specialist places in special schools and in resourced provisions, applying for a Special School Free School, continuing to work with social care to look at the number of children and young people in care and where they are placed, looking to establish local care homes and further developing services so that health needs are met locally. The Chair thanked the Assistant Director for this outline and asked for a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 666.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present Document PQ, which summarises the decisions and recommendations that the Schools Forum is asked to make in supporting the Local Authority to set the allocation of the DSG and formula funding arrangements for the 2023/24 financial year. The Forum is asked to take decisions (as required by the Regulations), and to make its final formal recommendations, on the Authority’s proposals under the following main headings:

·         Schools Block Centrally Managed Funds

·         Early Years Block Centrally Managed Funds

·         The Central Schools Services Block

·         The High Needs Block (including high needs formula funding models)

·         The Allocation & Retention of forecasted Balances Brought Forward

·         Early Years Block Early Years Single Funding Formula and Pro-Forma

·         Schools Block Primary & Secondary Formula Funding and Pro-Forma

Recommended -

(1)       The Forum is asked for its final decisions on identified items as required by the Regulations.

(2)       The Forum is asked to give its final formal recommendations on the Authority’s proposals for the allocation of the 2023/24 DSG, 2023/24 formula funding arrangements, and the treatment of balances forecasted to be carried forward from 2022/23. The Forum’s recommendations will be presented to the Council’s Executive on 21 February, and then, subject to the Executive’s resolution, to full Council on 23 February, as part of the Council’s final decision making process.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

Resolved –

These are the decisions and recommendations that the Schools Forum has made in supporting the Local Authority to establish the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) planned budget and formula funding arrangements for the 2023/24 financial year. The Forum has taken decisions (as required by the Regulations), and has made formal recommendations, which will go forward for presentation to the Executive on 21 February 2023.

Important points of note, which help explain the rationale for decisions / recommendations, are also recorded.

1.         Schools Block Centrally Managed Funds 2023/24 (DECISION)

Schools Block De-Delegated Funds 2023/24 (DECISION)

Document PN Appendices 1 – 3.

1.1 Schools Members representing maintained primary & secondary schools agreed as follows the values of de-delegated funds, and the contributions to be taken from the 2023/24 formula funding allocations of maintained primary & secondary schools.

All items were agreed unanimously.

a)    School Re-Organisation Costs (Safeguarded Salaries) (Primary & Secondary): agreed to continue de-delegation from both the primary and secondary phases for the actual cost of continuing safeguarded salaries in maintained primary and secondary schools.

b)   School Re-Organisation Costs (Sponsored academy conversions budget deficits) (Primary phase only): agreed to continue to ‘pause’ de-delegation from the primary phase, meaning that no new contribution is taken in 2023/24. Review again for 2024/25. The Schools Forum will be provided with monitoring reports where this fund’s brought forward balance is used in 2023/24 for this purpose.

c)    Exceptional Costs & Schools in Financial Difficulty (Primary phase only): agreed to continue de-delegation from the primary phase at the 2022/23 per pupil value.

d)   Costs of FSM Eligibility Assessments (Primary & Secondary): agreed to continue de-delegation from both the primary and secondary phases at the 2022/23 per FSM6 values, with contributions continuing to be taken using Free School Meals (FSM) Ever 6 data.

e)    Fisher Family Trust (Primary phase only): agreed to continue de-delegation from the primary phase, recovering the cash value to match the actual cost, which is still to be confirmed. Please note that the Schools Members representing maintained primary schools decided on 12 October 2022 to continue de-delegation in 2023/24 for the purposes of subscribing to FFT. As such, this decision is repeated here only for reference and for completeness.

f)     Trade Union Facilities Time – Negotiator Time (Primary & Secondary): agreed to continue de-delegation from primary and secondary phases at the 2022/23 per pupil value.

g)   Trade Union Facilities Time – Health and Safety Time (Primary & Secondary): agreed to continue de-delegation from primary and secondary phases at the 2022/23 per pupil value.

h)   School Maternity / Paternity ‘insurance’ fund (Primary phase only): agreed to continue de-delegation from the primary phase at a value forecasted to afford the scheme for a full year. The £app cost is shown in Document PN Appendix 2 (£26.44 per pupil, which is + 30% on 2022/23). The £26.44 per pupil value includes the release, on a one off basis, of £0.10m of balance brought forward within this fund. It is estimated that the scheme will cost £0.75m in total in 2023/24.

i)     School  ...  view the full minutes text for item 667.

No matters were raised and no resolutions were passed on this item.

No resolutions were passed on this item.

Members will be asked for any additional items of business, for consideration at a future meeting.

The Vice Chair asked the Business Advisor (Schools) for further advice on how schools should budget for pay awards in 2023/24. The Business Advisor offered his ‘informal’ advice’, but add that further information will be presented to the Schools Forum at the next meeting within the ‘update on school budget matters’ annual report.

No resolutions were passed on this item.

A provisional meeting has been planned (subject to this being needed to complete agenda item 12) to take place on Wednesday 18 January.

The next substantive Forum meeting is planned for Wednesday 8 March 2023 (remote).

For planning purposes, the provisional schedule for Schools Forum meetings for the 2023/24 academic year has now been set, as follows:

·        Wednesday 13 September 2023, 8am

·        Wednesday 11 October 2023, 8am

·        Wednesday 6 December 2023, 8am

·        Wednesday 10 January 2024, 8am

·        Wednesday 17 January 2024, 8am PROVISIONAL MEETING

·        Wednesday 6 March 2024, 8am

·        Wednesday 22 May 2024, 8am

·        Wednesday 10 July 2024, 8am

(a)       Denotes an item for action (including where a formal view or recommendation is required).

(i)  Denotes an item for information.

Signposting of High Needs Information

As per the schedule presented on 14 October 2020, “Forum members are expected to access ‘outside of the Forum meetings’ wider SEND information that is presented to other groups and that is already published, including information presented to the SEND Partnership. The Authority will signpost this information (webpage links) for Forum members at the bottom of agendas.”

SEND Partnership Board (minutes of meetings):

https://localoffer.bradford.gov.uk/coproduction--feedback/send-strategic-partnership-board-

The next scheduled is Wednesday 8 March January. This meeting will be held remotely.

For planning purposes, the provisional schedule for Schools Forum meetings for the 2023/24 academic year has now been set, as follows:

·         Wednesday 13 September 2023, 8am

·         Wednesday 11 October 2023, 8am

·         Wednesday 6 December 2023, 8am

·         Wednesday 10 January 2024, 8am

·         Wednesday 17 January 2024, 8am PROVISIONAL MEETING

·         Wednesday 6 March 2024, 8am

·         Wednesday 22 May 2024, 8am

·         Wednesday 10 July 2024, 8am

Please see the published schedule of meetings – the next Forum meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 8 March 2023. Please note that the provisional meeting scheduled for 18 January 2023 is not required and is cancelled.

Chair

Note:      These minutes are subject to approval as a correct record at the next meeting of the Forum.

THESE MINUTES HAVE BEEN PRODUCED, WHEREVER POSSIBLE, ON RECYCLED PAPER