The Business Advisor (Schools) 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2025 be signed as a correct record.

(Asad Shah – 01274 432280)

The Business Advisor (Schools) reported on progress made on “Action” items from the 10 January meeting. He reported that:

• Item 829 (DSG Growth Fund Allocations): The agreed allocations have been paid.

• Item 830 (Early Years Consultation): The consultation was completed. This is picked up in Document SN, presented under agenda item 7.

• Item 835 (Final Decisions and Formal Recommendations 2025/26 DSG): Further update on this is presented under agenda item 7. The Council on 8 March decided on the Forum’s recommendations on the 2025/26 DSG and formula funding arrangements. These were approved unamended. Our Schools Block APT return for 2025/26 was submitted to the ESFA well before the deadline and we have now received an approval response.

Resolved –

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

(2)       That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2025 be signed as a correct record.

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

No resolutions were passed on this item

There are no new allocations for 2024/25 presented to this meeting.

No resolutions were passed on this item

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document SM, which provides an update for the Schools Forum on the application, in the 2024/25 financial year, of the Schools Block Falling Rolls Fund for mainstream primary phase-maintained schools and mainstream primary phase academies.

Recommended –

The Schools Forum is asked to note that, as set out in Document SM, and following the agreed established criteria, there are no allocations to be made from the Schools Block Falling Rolls Fund in 2024/25.

 (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document SM, which provided an update for the Schools Forum on the application, in the 2024/25 financial year, of the Schools Block Falling Rolls Fund for mainstream primary phase-maintained schools and mainstream primary phase academies.

A member asked whether the value of the £500,000 fund that is held within the Schools Block brought forward balance would now be reduced. The Business Advisor explained that it would not be reduced at this time, but that, as agreed on 15 January regarding the ‘pooling’ of DSG reserves, the value of the £500,000 fund that is still available at the end of 2025/26 would be used to offset the value of the High Needs Block deficit.

Forum members did not have any further comments or questions.

Resolved –

The Schools Forum noted that, as set out in Document SM, and following the agreed established criteria, there are no allocations to be made from the Schools Block Falling Rolls Fund in 2024/25.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document SN, which provides an update on a number of matters relating to the Dedicated Schools Grant.

Recommended –

The Schools Forum is asked to consider and to note the information provided in the report.

                                                                                                                                                                                             (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document SM, which provided an update for the Schools Forum on the application, in the 2024/25 financial year, of the Schools Block Falling Rolls Fund for mainstream primary phase-maintained schools and mainstream primary phase academies.

A member asked whether the value of the £500,000 fund that is held within the Schools Block brought forward balance would now be reduced. The Business Advisor explained that it would not be reduced at this time, but that, as agreed on 15 January regarding the ‘pooling’ of DSG reserves, the value of the £500,000 fund that is still available at the end of 2025/26 would be used to offset the value of the High Needs Block deficit.

Forum members did not have any further comments or questions.

Resolved –

That the information provided in Document SN be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will provide an update verbally on matters relating to the High Needs Block and the forecast DSG account deficit, which will include feedback from the Authority’s informal meeting with the ESFA held on 11 February.

Recommended –

The Schools Forum is asked to consider and to note the information provided in the report.

                                                                                                                                                                                           (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) provided an update verbally on matters relating to the High Needs Block and the forecast DSG account deficit:

·         At this stage, our forecasting of our DSG account position at the ends of both 2024/25 and 2025/26 has not particularly changed. An update will be provided at the next meeting in May, following the Authority’s financial year close. It is likely that there will be some improvement in the 2024/25 outturn, but this is subject to the final confirmed spending position.

·         No significant announcements have been made by Government since the last Forum meeting regarding the national high needs system, national reform or timetables. We still expect a thrust of this reform to be a focus on mainstream inclusion and resourced provision. This is definitely reinforced by the DfE’s early communication on the distribution of high needs capital funding in 2025/26 (allocations are to be announced ‘in March’).

·         There has been no further details announced regarding the status of the Statutory Override after 31 March 2026. The Public Accounts Committee in January asked that Government provides guidance on this ‘in March’.

·         The Authority met with the ESFA on 11 February to discuss our DSG forecast and High Needs Block deficit. This was an informal meeting. We explained the reasons why we had not taken forward a Schools Block to High Needs Block transfer, and this was accepted without challenge.

·         The ESFA was interested in understanding more about some of our strategic actions and our pilot work and is keen for Bradford to share our learning with other local authorities. The ESFA stated that way they are to engage with local authorities is changing, focusing more on webinars and workshops rather than individual meetings, and therefore, a further meeting has not been arranged at this time.

·         Seeking to identify changes and strategic actions to mitigate against the forecast deficit in the High Needs Block will continue to be a focus for the Authority during 2025, the Authority is establishing a ‘cross-Council’ group, with a specific remit of focusing on deficit mitigation and management and the Authority’s DSG Management Plan and Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

Forum members did not have any comments or questions.

Resolved –

That the information provided verbally be noted.

The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document SO, which provides an update on matters concerning school and academy budgets. This includes an update on the position of the conversion of maintained schools to academy status and on the general forecasted position of school and academy budgets over the 2025-2028 3-year period.

Recommended –

The Schools Forum is asked to consider and to note the information provided in the report.

          (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) presented a report, Document SO, which provided an update on matters concerning school and academy budgets. This included an update on the position of the conversion of maintained schools to academy status and on the general forecasted position of school and academy budgets over the 2025-2028 3-year period.

A member thanked the Business Advisor for the detail of the reports, commenting that this will take a little time to absorb. They stated that the picture is concerning and asked whether the new parliamentary bill is likely to improve the financial context, especially relating to the escalation of spending on independent placements. The Business Advisor responded that the position is complex, but that important changes are needed to control independent placements spend, alongside other reforms.

The Chair reinforced that, from his research and discussions with colleagues nationally, the financial pressures on school and academy budgets are significant and that the Authority’s guidance on this at this time is accurate and helpful.

Members did not have further comments or questions.

Resolved –

That the information presented in Document SO be noted.

Updates on the following Forum standing items will be provided verbally where these have not been covered within other agenda items:

·         Schools Forum membership

·         Update from the High Needs Block Steering Group

·         Update from the Schools Financial Performance Group (SFPG)

·         Update on School / Academy Budgets

·         Update from the Early Years Working Group (EYWG)

·         Update from the Formula Funding Working Group (FFWG)

·         Update on Primary School Places

·         Update on Academies & Free Schools

            The Forum is asked to note the information provided.

         (Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

No resolutions were passed on this item.

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

No resolutions were passed on this item.

The next Forum meeting is planned for Wednesday 21 May 2025.

(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 21 May 2025 (to be held remotely).