Recommended –

That the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 16 September 2020 be signed as a correct record.

The Business Advisor (Schools) reported on progress made on “Action” items:

·         Item 475 (matters arising from previous meetings) – The Falling Rolls Fundsubgroup met on 8 October and an update is provided verbally under agenda item 6. The updated Scheme for Financing Schools has been published and is now live.

·         Item 479 (COVID-19) – There is nothing new of significance to report regarding the key issues that have been raised (in particular around on-going cost implications and early years funding and income impact). There have been no major announcements since the last meeting about specific school or early years support funding or a second window opening for claims. There is no new guidance from the DfE about early years funding for the spring term.

The Authority is currently collecting information from maintained schools about COVID-19 impact at quarter 2 and working through the early years funding arrangements for the autumn term. We expect to provide an update again to the Forum in December. This is expected to include discussion about early years funding arrangements for spring term.

There is a specific matter to consider in relation to UIFSM and the October 2020 Census, which the Authority is currently advising primary schools and academies on.

Responding to the specific request raised by a primary phase member around whether there are options for moving AWPU funding between primary schools where schools admit pupils on appeal after the October Census is taken:

o   The Authority approached the ESFA to ask what flexibility there is. The ESFA’s response is that this would require a dis-application request and Secretary of State approval and we would need to evidence that all schools and academies have been consulted.

o   Given that the impact of this may not be clear for some time (we really would need to compare October Census numbers with e.g. January Census numbers), it will be difficult to put forward a clear case both for consultation and for ESFA approval in time for January. We would wish to look at this situation ‘in the round’ taking account of all movement of pupils in and out after the Census is taken. This would suggest that, if we do act, it would be retrospective with sight of all the data. This feels to be important because we would need to take funding away from some schools in order to give it to others (and this might be contentious).

o   With further reflection on this issue, the Regulations already permit the Authority to use a ‘Reception Uplift’ factor, which funds primary phase schools and academies for the increase in reception year numbers recorded between October and January in the previous academic year. So, although this is retrospective, it is a mechanism whereby primary schools and academies can be funded correctly where they admit a large number of children into reception after the October Census. Our sense is that this would possibly be the solution here. This isn’t a factor that we currently use (we stopped using it when we moved to mirror NFF in 2018 because the NFF doesn’t use it). But we could look to apply it for 2022/23 on a one off basis as this would retrospectively fund increases in reception numbers between October 2020 and January 2021. It would also have the advantage of not requiring any money to be directly taken away from a school or academy; it would only be a positive adjustment funded by headroom.

o   So the Authority will look to do some further work on the differences in total between October and January numbers and to take things forward from there, with a view that, if we wished to do something, we would do it retrospectively, seriously considering whether we adopt the reception uplift in 2022/23.

·         Item 484 (AOB Academies Membership): Members were reminded that this was triggered by the Chair reporting an expression of interest for membership, using one of the three academies vacancies. This is still a working in progress and need further discussion with respective parties – about how academy membership is managed and refreshed. However, in advance of this, Michael Thorp is attending this meeting as an observer. We hope to clarify membership arrangements as soon as possible. One of the main parts of this is to discuss again with academies themselves how they wish to organise their members (as by the letter of Regulations, the Authority does not have power in this area).

·         Item 478 (Funding Health Services in Schools): The minutes are recorded confidentially. It is anticipated that an update on certain aspects of the Forum’s discussion – the split of contributions between health, education and social care in respect of independent and OLA placements, for example - will be reported to the December meeting as a normal agenda item.

·         Item 478 (SEND and AP Update) – The minutes record the discussion on the appropriateness of the presentation to the Schools Forum of detailed occupancy data relating to high needs places and of other information relating to high needs strategy and operational delivery. These discussions touched on the remit and role of the Schools Forum in relation to high needs matters. It was recognised that further discussion is needed and would be helpful, including with reference to the DfE’s guidance on the remit of the Schools Forum in relation to high needs funding. In response to this:

o   The DfE’s ‘roles and responsibilities’ table is provided for members’ reference. This was last presented to the Forum in January 2020.

o   The Authority met with the Chair and Vice Chair on 2 October and agreed a set of principles and an outline information schedule. This is also now presented to the Forum for awareness and comment. This schedule was welcomed. A member asked that the Forum, within the schedule of information, continue to be updated on the extent to which the High Needs Block continues to fund health related activities and therapies (referring to item 478 recorded above).

Resolved –

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

(2)       That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2020 be signed as a correct record.