The Business Advisor (Schools) will present a report, Document ML, which asks Forum Members to consider the outcomes of the consultation on the 2021/22 High Needs Funding Model.

Document ML also provides an update on other strategic high needs funding matters - a statement on high needs places sufficiency - as per the schedule of information agreed with the Forum on 14 October. Members are asked to note that the 2019/20 exclusions report, due to the timetable for the census dataset release and analysis, will now be presented to the Forum on 10 March. Please note that the other information to be presented as per the schedule (High Needs Block planned budget and current spending position and balances) is presented under agenda items 7 and 8.

As discussed with the Forum in September, the report also includes an initial consideration of the cost of placements in independent provisions and non-maintained special schools.

Recommended –

(1)       The Schools Forum is asked to consider the information provided       in respect of wider High Needs funding matters.

(2)       The Forum is asked to consider the outcomes of the consultation        on High Needs Funding for 2021/22 and whether any of the proposals should be changed in the light of responses.

(3)       Members are asked to note that they will be asked to make their            formal recommendations on the structure of the High Needs       Block funding formulae on 13 January. As such, Members are      asked to consider whether sufficient information has now been             provided to enable these final recommendations to be made.

(Andrew Redding – 01274 432678)

The Business Advisor (Schools) introduced the report, Document ML.

This report firstly asked Forum Members to consider the outcomes of the consultation on the 2021/22 High Needs Funding Model. In discussing the consultation feedback, the Business Advisor presented verbally in more detail the response that has been received from the BD3 LAP, explaining that this response is reflective of elements of a view that has been present in wider conversations about SEND funding with different schools and groups (feedback requesting clearer guidance on the criteria used by Panel to apply the Banded Model and on how the stacking facility is accessed; feedback on the sufficiency of SEND funding and on the pressure that is placed on mainstream settings from the under funding of individual pupils that are assessed by schools to require one to one provision when the Banded Model uses a provision matrix approach; feedback asking how the Authority is working to develop a sufficient number of specialist places in order to reduce the pressure that is coming into mainstream settings from the growing complexity of pupils’ needs). Members did not have any comments on this feedback.

The statement on high needs places sufficiency (Document ML Appendix 1) was presented by the Strategic Manager, Sufficiency and Intelligence. This statement was welcomed by Members. It provides a detailed work through and summary of demographic SEND trends and confirms for the Forum the continued need to create new specialist places on an on-going basis. The statement also highlights (as a good news story) how many additional places have already been created (+700). An academies member representing special schools / academies welcomed the clear confirmation that the statement provides of the need to continue to create places. He added however, that the District Achievement Partnership’s view is that current special school capacity is now at its maximum. Therefore, the Authority does need to consider carefully how additional special school places are to be created and this does bring the sufficiency of capital funding into view. The Strategic Manager in response explained that the Council’s budget proposals for 2021/22, which are currently out for consultation, include a £6m SEND places capital budget (£2m a year for the next 3 years). The Strategic Manager also stated that she is hopeful that capital announcements to be made by the DfE in the new year will be positive for the Bradford District.

In the third part of the report, the Business Advisor presented for initial consideration the current cost to the High Needs Block of placements in independent provisions and in non-maintained special schools. The report also presented information on how our % of population in these provisions has changed over time and how this compares with other authorities. He explained that this information is presented to highlight a spend area within the High Needs Block that the Forum should closely consider with the Authority going forward. Spending on independent and NMSS placements will form part of the Authority’s holistic DSG Management Plan, which will be initially presented on 13 January. The Business Advisor also explained that the monitoring and consideration of spending in this area will contribute to the continuation of discussions that have been had recently with the Schools Forum about the funding of continuing care costs in schools and the of respective financial responsibilities that exist between education and health. An academies member representing special schools / academies emphasised the importance of this issue, highlighting that there is a national problem (a lack of clarity and a regulatory inconsistency) with regards to the definition of the legitimate use of education funding for health-related costs. He stated that this national issue is present in how financial responsibilities for the health-related costs of pupils (whilst they are in an education setting) have been defined by the CCGs in Bradford.

Resolved –

Members noted the information and consultation responses presented in Document ML and did not ask for further information to be provided to support final recommendations to be made on 13 January.