The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. 

Apologies had been received from: 

Chris Mervyn, Shaun Allen, Cllr Christopher Carubia, Andrew Snow, Yaqub Allen, Cllr Judith Grier, Simon Davies, John McDonald, Elizabeth Hartley, Loraine Prescott. 

A member of the press had requested to take photographs of the meeting. At the Chair's discretion, a vote was held, and it resolved by assent that the member of the press could not take pictures of the meeting (3:22:0). 

The Forum requested the list of attendees, and the format in which the names of attendees are written be changed on the minutes of the previous meeting. 

The Assistant Director for Education informed members that further information regarding minute item 24 “Mainstream School Admissions” would be available on request. 

Resolved – That subject to the amendments above, the minutes of the meeting held on the 1 October 2024 be approved and adopted as a correct record.  

The Finance Business Partner for Schools Financial Support Traded Service presented the report to the Forum on behalf of the Director of Children, Families and Education. The report provided a description of the current and projected financial position for schools together with action that was being taken. The report outlined that the position remained difficult due to increased costs during 2024-25, even with additional funding provided in the financial year. 

The Assistant Director for Education added to the report presentation, focusing on Special Schools. The Assistant Director explained that there would be a further report in March, including a funding review. He also detailed that his team were aiming to forward plan yearly budgets earlier. 

Furthering on from the report, the Finance Business Partner for Schools Financial Support Traded Service told Forum members that her department were working on rolling out updated software, to schools this term. She added that the updated software worked best with setting and monitoring budgets. Members asked the report presenter if there was any feedback from schools who have already received the updated software and if the department was prepared and sufficiently staffed for the software update. The Finance Business Partner for Schools Financial Support Traded Service reassured the Forum members that the updated software had been working well despite the increased difficulty to set budgets and that the department had a three-year plan in place in regard to staffing which should allow them to plan in period nine with budget allocations. 

The Forum Members asked the report presenter, the Finance Business Partner for Schools Financial Support Traded Service, and the Assistant Director for Education if there would be support for Headteachers who are new to their role. The Forum members were reassured that schools would receive monthly budget monitoring visits as well as financial support being included in the new Headship programme. 

The representative for Nursey Schools stated that Nursery Schools were feeling additional pressure due to the ‘top-up’ funding not covering the deficit in the budget spending. The Nursery representative also explained the additional pressures rising staffing costs placed on Nursery Schools which were not receiving any additional funding. 

Resolved – That  

1. The report be noted; and 

2. The schools budget continue to be monitored. 

The Finance Manager presented the report to the Forum on behalf of the Director of Children, Families and Education. The report provided an overview of the anticipated variations for the current year 2024-25 schools budget. 

The Assistant Director for Education added to the Finance Managers presentation by explaining the increased number of Educational Health Care Plans (EHCPs) and the increased cost of a plan. It was explained that the increase in cost per child was two/three units, in line with the rise of the cost of living, as was seen in all social care settings at this time. 

Resolved – That the report be noted and the forecast financial position of the schools budget for 2024-2025 

The Finance Manager presented the report to the Forum on behalf of the Director of Children, Families and Education. The report outlined the Schools Budget for 2025-26 so that the Forum could give their views on the proposals. The report described the financial changes to be considered by the Schools Forum and Policy and Resources Committee. The proposed budget totals £424.45m for Early Years, Maintained Schools, Academies, Colleges, and Providers for the financial year 2025-26. 

The Assistant Director for Education added to the report presentation, detailing sections in the report. The Assistant Director told the Forum that there had been a significant change in pupil numbers in Wirral, that equated to a £2 Million change in funding. The fall in numbers would continue for the next seven to eight years. The Assistant Director also explained that Table 5, in the report, detailed a change in Free School Meals of 440 and a spike of children who had English as their additional language, equating to 20% of children in the borough. The shortfall being experienced was due to a mismatch in data, the Assistant Director explained, the Department for Education were using 2023 data whilst the Local Authority was using 2024 data. 

The Chair of the Forum asked the Assistant Director if they could share this information with the Department for Education, to which the Assistant Director suggested to send a letter from the Chair and the Director for Children, Families and Education to the Department for Education.

The Forum discussed the impact the cost-of-living crisis was having on parents and schools, the Assistant Director explained that the cost-of-living crisis was projected nationally however, Wirral was experiencing a much more concentrated rate. 

The Forum discussed Educational Health Care Plans (EHCPs), and the impact they had on funding. The Forum was reassured by the Assistant Director that reduced contributions were incorporated in the five-year cycle plan and the department was working on calculations for additional funding for this school year. 

The Assistant Director for Education stated that Wirral was in a challenging position regarding the schools budget and suggested undertaking a deep dive exercise in June to look at the likely pressures. 

The Forum raised their concerns with how the government had calculated the increase in the schools budget for 2025-26 of 7.11%, they felt that while this looked good on paper, it was based on a blended-rate, which most schools in Wirral did have. They felt it would push schools into an unexpected deficit which would push schools into relying on grant money. They felt it was likely that schools would have to cut staff to stay afloat. 

The Assistant Director for Education offered to make representations around changes in pupil numbers and stated that if Heads wanted him to combine this, they would be giving anything more. He offered to give a statement to highlight that the offer is not good enough for a local authority with rising poverty levels. 

The Forum queried the rules for agreeing a deficit budget.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

The Finance Manager presented the report to the Forum on behalf of the Director of Children, Families and Education. The report was to seek a decision by the Forum representative of maintained schools on the possible de-delegation of a number of services to schools, where there is a preference to continue a central service. 

The Assistant Director for Education added to the report presentation, explaining that other than the increase that was outlined in the report, all other factors of de-delegation were flat for maintained schools. It was explained to the forum that the local authority had investigated shared parental leave and discovered that only a small number of staff were impacted by this, meaning it could not be justified if this were to become de-delegated. The local authority detailed they were happy to do a consultation for this, but did not feel it would be appropriate. 

The Assistant Director for Education had been in conversation with secondary school headteachers from Local Authority maintained schools, to discuss their votes for the following recommendations. The votes were reflected in the outcomes. The Assistant Director for Education also assured the forum a secondary school representative would be found. 

Resolved – That 

1. The Primary Forum Representatives agreed to de-delegate each of the following budgets for the financial year 2025-26: -  

a. Contingency  

b. Special Staff Costs, including TU Facilities Time  

c. School Library Service  

d. Insurance  

e. School Improvement  

f. Behaviour support 

2. The Primary Forum Representatives agreed a contribution to former Education Services Grant costs of £305,362 (3:0:0) 

3. The Secondary Forum Representatives agreed to de-delegate each of the following budgets for the financial year 2025-26 –  

a. Contingency  

b. Special Staff Costs, including TU Facilities Time  

c. School Improvement 

d. Behaviour support 

4. The Secondary Forum Representatives agreed a contribution to former Education Services Grant costs of £65,766 (1:0:0) 

5. The Special School Forum Representatives agreed a contribution to former Education Services Grant costs of £110,435 (2:0:0) 

6. As per DfE guidance, the Primary and Secondary Forum Representatives agreed a contribution to replace SIMBG costs of £259,500 (4:0:0) 

7. As per DfE guidance, the Special School Forum representatives agreed a contribution to replace SIMBG costs of £25,600 (2:0:0) 

The Finance Manager presented the report to the Forum on behalf of the Director of Children, Families and Education. The report informed the Forum of directed changes to the Scheme for Financing Schools as required by the Department of Education (DfE) and changes to restriction on excess surplus balances following a period of consultation of clawback mechanism with Wirral maintained schools and the Schools Forum decision. 

The Assistant Director for Education clarified that many schools in the borough were using their funds for a variation of things, such as capital investment. He assured the forum that there would be one school where a claw-back mechanism would be applied. The Assistant Director explained to members that he, and his team, did not believe this approach, of a claw-back mechanism, would be required in the forthcoming year. The Assistant Director took time to thank all Head Teachers who had contributed to the scheme.

Resolved – That the report be noted 

The Senior Accountant presented a report on behalf of the Director of Children, Families and Education. The report described the current representation of the Forum and membership changes. 

The Assistant Director told members that a colleague from Wirral Met College would be joining the forum in March 2025. He told the forum that a secondary school governor could fill the vacant position on the forum, as the secondary school representative. 

Resolved – That the report be noted 

The Chair introduced the Schools Forum Work Plan. 

The Assistant Director for Education addressed the Forum, detailing that there would be an additional meeting on 18 March 2025 to look at the High Needs Funding Model. 

A member of the forum asked the Assistant Director to present a small update on finances at the March meeting, to which he agreed. 

Resolved – That the work plan be noted.