As the 8 December meeting was not quorate, the Schools Forum is asked to review and to approve the minutes of the 13 October 2021 meeting. The note, which summarises the briefing that was held for members that attended the 8 December meeting, and which has been circulated to all members, is copied here for completeness.

The Business Advisor highlighted for Forum members the briefing note within the reports pack, which was written to summarise the 8 December Forum meeting, which was held informally as it was inquorate.

The Business Advisor (Schools) then reported on progress made on “Action” items from the 13 October meeting:

·         Item 589 (Schools Block consultation) – The consultation document was published and the consultation period closed on 30 November. The feedback received from the consultation was picked up under agenda item 7 on 8 December. Within the reports pack, we provided a summary of the numbers that would have been funded by the Reception Uplift factor for the last 3 years, as requested.

·         Item 590 (High Needs Block consultation) – The consultation document was published and the consultation period closed on 30 November. The feedback received from the consultation was picked up under agenda item 9 on 8 December. The DfE has stated that the outcomes of the national SEND and Alternative Provision reviews, the publication of which will include consultation on system and funding changes possibly for April 2023, will now be announced in the first quarter of 2022. We might expect this to be an agenda item for the Schools Forum either in March or May.

·         Item 591 (Early Years Block funding matters) – The Early Years Block settlement has been announced and this was picked up under agenda item 6 on 8 December. The EYSFF consultation document was published on 8 December. The consultation runs to the 24 January. The Principal Finance Officer (Schools) verbally provided a summary of the feedback to the consultation that has been received so far.

a)    The Business Advisor reported on other matters arising, as follows:

·         On 16 December, the DfE announced that additional new Supplementary Grant funding will be allocated to mainstream nursery, primary and secondary schools and academies for the 2022/23 financial year (from April 2022), covering a number of priorities and pressures, but including the cost of the new National Insurance Social Care / NHS Levy. This will be a grant that is calculated by the ESFA, using a national methodology. It is expected that this grant will be merged into the National Funding Formula for the 2023/24 financial year.

·         Also regarding the Supplementary Grant funding, different arrangements will apply for special schools / special school academies / PRUs and Alternative Provision academies and other high needs providers. The Local Authority will be allocated a single sum of £3.8m into the High Needs Block, from which to provide additional financial support. We will need to consider further how to allocate this funding. The Business Advisor confirmed for members that this £3.8m is not allocated by the recommendations that are being made at this meeting. Likely the £3.8m in 2022/23 will be allocated between:

o   Increasing further the top up values allocated by our EHCP Banded Model and PRU Day Rate Funding Model, specifically to cover the new National Insurance levy cost.

o   Further Education Providers & other post-16 provisions – meeting the top-up cost that will come from the additional 40 hours study time for students with high needs within the post-16 settlement for the 2022/23 academic year.

o   Independent, NMSS and OLA placements – meeting the additional costs of placements (as providers are likely to increase their placement costs in response to the new levy).

·         On the 16 December, the DfE confirmed that Pupil Premium Grant rates of funding for 2022/23 are increasing. These increases are reflected in the indicative modelling presented to the Forum at this meeting.

Resolved –

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

That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2021 be signed as a correct record.