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): Helen Williams and Ashley Reed.

That the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 6 December 2023 be signed as a correct record.

(Asad Shah – 01274 432280)

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

·         Item 738 (SEND Sufficiency Statement) – We have provided information on PRU / AP places planning within the 2024/25 budget under agenda item 11 (update DSG Management Plan). We are making provision from the 2024/25 planned budget for 300 places, increased from the 160 places in the 2023/24 planned budget this time last year.

The Business Advisor then reported the following:

·         On the 19 December, the DfE confirmed that Pupil Premium Grant rates of funding for 2024/25 are increasing, by 1.5% (rounded). These increases are reflected in the indicative modelling that is presented to the Forum at this meeting.

·         The DfE has now confirmed that there will be a new Teachers Pensions Grant in support of the 5% increase in the employer’s contribution to teacher pensions from April 2024. Further details on this are still to be published by the DfE.

·         So far, we cannot see that the DfE has announced the post-16 funding settlement for the 2024/25 academic year.

Resolved –

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

(2)       That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2023 be signed as a correct record.

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

No resolutions were passed on this item

As presented in Document QV, Forum Members are asked to agree newly proposed allocations, from the 2023/24 Schools Block Growth Fund, to maintained secondary schools and secondary academies. Document QV replaces Document QM, which was presented on 6 December. The six allocations that were estimated in Document QM are now confirmed.

Recommended –

(1)       The Schools Forum is asked to agree to allocate a total of £770,431 from the Growth Fund in 2023/24 to maintained secondary schools and secondary academies, as set out in Document QV.

(2)       Members are asked to note that an indicative total sum of £1,149,175 of surplus balance of Growth Fund is ring-fenced and is forecasted to be carried forward into 2024/25 within the Schools Block.

         (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

As presented by the Business Advisor (Schools), in Document QV, Forum Members were asked to agree proposed allocations, from the 2023/24 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 £770,431 from the Growth Fund in 2023/24 to maintained secondary schools and secondary academies, as set out in Document QV.

(2)       Members noted that an indicative total sum of £1,149,175 of surplus balance of Growth Fund is ring-fenced and is forecasted to be carried forward into 2024/25 within the Schools Block.

LEAD:            Business Advisor, Schools

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document QW, which presents the Authority’s consultation on proposals for Bradford’s 2024/25 Early Years Single Funding Formula. Subject to the Forum’s agreement, this consultation will go live immediately following this meeting and will have a closing date for responses of 5 February 2024.

Recommended –

(1)       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 6 March. However, this will be after Council has taken its final decisions on DSG arrangements for 2024/25 on 22 February.

(2)       Members are asked to note that the recommended allocation of the 2024/25 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 6 March.

         (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document QW, which presented the Authority’s consultation on proposals for Bradford’s 2024/25 Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF), including our proposals for new formula funding for the two new entitlements. 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 5 February 2024. The Business Advisor explained that this consultation follows from discussions in the 6 December Schools Forum meeting about the implications for our decision-making timetable of the later publication by the DfE of the 2024/25 Early Years Block settlement and operational guidance. These were published by the DfE on 29 November. The Early Years Working Group met on 14 December.

Within his presentation, the Business Advisor explained to the Forum how our Early Years Block settlement for 2024/25 is improved on 2023/24, but that this improvement must be assessed in the context of the continued significant increases in salaries costs for all providers, including a further c. 10% increase in the National Living Wage. This Business Advisor also explained that the issue of the funding of 26 weeks of delivery for the new Under 2s entitlement is still to be addressed by the DfE and we currently await the DfE’s announcement on this matter. For the planned budget, that is presented to today’s meeting, we assume that this issue will not be resolved, meaning that we will have £1.2m of unfunded delivery cost in 2024/25, which would be met from our Early Years Block reserves. However, if this issue is resolved (the DfE funds 26 weeks rather than 22 weeks for the delivery of the new Under 2s entitlement for the period September 2024 to March 2025), the £1.2m overspend will be removed and this will not be a call on Early Years Block reserves.

Members did not have any comments or questions on the Authority’s EYSFF proposals. The Forum offered its support for these and agreed for the consultation document to be published.

Resolved –

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

(2)       That the Schools Forum supports the proposals for the Early Years Single Funding Formula for 2024/25 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 QW.

LEAD:            Business Advisor, Schools

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document QX, which updates Forum Members on the position of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the 2024/25 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.

     (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document QX, which updated Forum Members on the position of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for the 2024/25 financial year. This is a main reference document for this meeting.

The Forum’s attention focused on the £22m estimated overspending within the High Needs Block, with overall DSG balances estimated to reduce from £30m to £7m by the end of 2024/25 (and then for our DSG account to move into cumulative deficit by the end of 2025/26).

A member representing maintained primary school headteachers asked how the £22m overspend is constructed. The Business Advisor responded that further details are provided in the DSG Management Plan under agenda item 11, but broadly this comes from: £4m carried forward overspend from 2023/24 minus £5.5m more High Needs Block income in 2024/25 plus £23m increased spend estimated for 2024/25. The £23m is made up of expected significant continued growth in spending in 6 main areas. The member asked why the increase in High Needs Block income is not keeping pace with increasing costs. The Business Advisor responded that we had previously assessed that the Government’s 2022-2025 3-year national school funding settlement was frontloaded, meaning that increases in funding per pupil were expected to be much lower in 2024/25. This is what has now happened, with our increase in High Needs Block funding being capped at 5% per pupil in 2024/25 compared with increases higher than 10% in each of the last few years. This is happening at a time when our rates of growth in spending are increasing not reducing. The Chair added, in presentations to the Forum over the last 18 months, that we have predicted that this scale of financial challenge was on the horizon, and this was a key reason for caution in our approach to the use of our High Needs Block surplus balance.

An Academies Member asked for clarification on what would happen in 12 months’ time if were to find ourselves with a deficit DSG account or setting a 2025/26 planned budget that results in deficit. What would the DfE do? The Business Advisor responded to explain the ‘statutory accounting override’ and the DfE’s existing Safety Value and Delivering Better Value intervention and support programmes. He explained that we would wish to engage with the DfE as early as possible, to highlight our prediction and to ask for support. This is one of the mitigating actions that we now propose to take (to contact the DfE). The Strategic Director, Childrens’ Services, highlighted for Forum members that the issue of High Needs Block deficits is a national one and she offered her view that action on a national level will be required from government in order to resolve the clear crisis that is currently present. Whilst Bradford has been successful in managing high needs block financial pressures, working collaboratively, that Bradford is now in difficulty evidences the scale of the funding issues that are present at a national level. We and other  ...  view the full minutes text for item 753.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present statements, Document QY Appendices 1 and 2, which update Forum Members on the forecasted spending positions of each of the DSG Blocks for 2023/24, on the estimated values of balances to be carried forward into 2024/25, and on the proposed uses of these balances.

These statements replace the initial indicative forecasts that were presented to the Schools Forum on 6 December (in Document QS).

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 QY Appendices 1 and 2, which updated Forum Members on the forecasted spending positions of each of the DSG Blocks for 2023/24, on the estimated values of balances to be carried forward into 2024/25, and on the proposed uses of these balances. These statements replaced the initial indicative forecasts that were presented to the Schools Forum on 6 December (in Document QS).

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

Resolved –

That the information presented in Document QY be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present statements, Document QZ 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 2024/25 financial year.

The statements at Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 replace the indicative information that was presented to the Schools Forum on 6 December (in Document QU).

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 2023/24.

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 QZ 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 2024/25 financial year. The statements at Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 replaced the indicative information that was presented to the Schools Forum on 6 December (in Document QU). 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 2023/24.

An Academies Member asked for clarification on why it is proposed that a further £0.950m of budget is taken in 2024/25 for the Growth Fund in the Schools Block when £1.1m of balance is carried forward. The Business Advisor explained the rationale for this, linking to the expected changes in Growth Fund arrangements as well as the potential for the £1.1m balance to be used to help to support a Schools Block to High Needs Block transfer, should this be accepted in 2025/26.

Resolved –

That the information presented in Document QZ be noted.

The Principal Finance Officers (Schools) and the Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document RA, with Appendices 1-5.

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 2023 Census. Modelling previously presented to the Forum has been based on October 2022 Census data.

Appendices 2a, 2b and 2c show the proposed indicative rates of funding for early years settings for the 2024/25 financial year. These rates are shown, prior to the completion of the consultation on our Early Years Single Funding Formula (which closes on 5 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 2024/25 (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.

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 RA, with Appendices 1-5.

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 2023 Census. Modelling previously presented to the Forum has been based on October 2022 Census data.

Appendices 2a, 2b and 2c showed the proposed indicative rates of funding for early years settings for the 2024/25 financial year. These rates were shown, prior to the completion of the consultation on our Early Years Single Funding Formula (which closes on 5 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.

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

Resolved –

That the information presented in Document RA be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document RB, which is an update of the Authority’s Management Plan for the Dedicated Schools Grant.

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 2024/25 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 RB, 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 2024/25 and a future year forecast of the High Needs Block.

Having discussed the position of the High Needs Block under agenda item 7, Forum members did not have any further comments and did not ask any more questions.

Resolved –

That the DSG Management Plan presented in Document RB be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present Document RC, 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 2024/25 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 2024/25 DSG, 2024/25 formula funding arrangements, and the treatment of balances forecasted to be carried forward from 2023/24. The Forum’s recommendations will be presented to the Council’s Executive on 20 February, and then, subject to the Executive’s resolution, to full Council on 22 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 2024/25 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 20 February 2024.

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

1.         Schools Block Centrally Managed Funds 2024/25 (DECISION)

Schools Block De-Delegated Funds 2024/25 (DECISION)

Please refer to Document QZ 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 2024/25 formula funding allocations of maintained primary & secondary schools.

Items were agreed by majority.

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 2024/25. The Schools Forum will be provided with monitoring reports where this fund’s brought forward balance is used in 2024/25 for this purpose.

c)    Exceptional Costs & Schools in Financial Difficulty (Primary phase only): agreed to continue de-delegation from the primary phase at the 2023/24 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 2023/24 per FSM6 values increased by 6%, with contributions continuing to be taken using Free School Meals (FSM) Ever 6 data.

e)    Fisher Family Trust (Primary phase only): please note that the Schools Members representing maintained primary schools decided on 11 October 2023 to cease de-delegation for the purposes of subscribing to FFT. 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 95% of the 2023/24 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 95% of the 2023/24 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 QZ Appendix 2 (£28.32 per pupil, which is + 7% on 2023/24). The £28.32 per pupil value includes the release, on a one-off basis, of £0.10m of balance brought forward within this fund and it is estimated that the scheme will cost £0.70m in total in 2024/25.

i)     School Staff Public Duties and Suspensions Fund (Primary phase only): agreed to continue de-delegation from the primary phase on the same £app  ...  view the full minutes text for item 758.

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

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 17 January.

The next substantive Forum meeting is planned for Wednesday 6 March 2024 (remote).

For planning purposes, the provisional schedule for Schools Forum meetings for the 2024/25 academic year has now been set, as follows:

·         Wednesday 11 September 2024, 8am

·         Wednesday 9 October 2024, 8am

·         Wednesday 4 December 2024, 8am

·         Wednesday 15 January 2025, 8am

·         Wednesday 22 January 2025, 8am PROVISIONAL MEETING

·         Wednesday 12 March 2025, 8am

·         Wednesday 21 May 2025, 8am

·         Wednesday 9 July 2025, 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-

Please see the published schedule of meetings – the next Forum meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 6 March 2024. The provisional meeting scheduled for 17 January 2024 is not required and is cancelled.

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