There were no matters arising.

The minutes from the meeting were accepted as a true record.

Ian McGrady updated Forum on Edsential’s second year of trading as a Community Interest Company.  The company have had a solid year and continued to reduce costs whilst concentrating on quality.  A small loss was made but they are now back on track.  Edsential are planning to offer new services, including supporting mental health in schools, early years consultants, Family Cooking Schools, bid writing and Duke of Edinburgh awards.  Edsential will be consulting with schools shortly on a mechanism for distributing their grant fund of £50k. 

Resolved

Forum noted the report

To follow

Jackie Forsey briefed Forum on the service provided by the Home and Continuing Education Service, highlighting the review of the service that had been undertaken to be able to respond to the changing demands of schools and the LA, particularly around mental health.  The impact on services are detailed in the report.  A charge to schools who use the service of £80 per week, after the first 12 weeks will be introduced, this is comparable to 10 hours of Alternative Provision.  The Service Level Agreement and the information sheet detailing the referral process are included with the minutes.

Resolved

Forum noted the report

Carol Fenlon updated the Forum on the uptake of 2, 3 and 4 year old funding and the implementation of the extended offer.  An issue with Universal Credits has affected the uptake of 2 year old places as some children were omitted from the eligibility list.  This was brought to the attention of the DfE at the National Conference. 

The Extended offer had a 43% increase between autumn 17 and spring 18. Funded workshops to engage providers and support uptake of extended hours has been successful, with outcomes being discussed at the next working group in June.

Gill Billinge requested that the EY group look at the impact of the 15 hour extension on primary school nursery classes.

Resolved

Forum noted the report and agreed the areas for discussion by the working group

Shaun Allen summarised the revisions to the document “Funding Arrangements for High Needs Special Education Needs Pupils and Students”.  These were:-

·  The changes to place funding for schools with bases, where they are the subsidiary school for a child in the base.

·  Changes to the funding of special schools and resourced provision where there are surplus places at the end of an academic year.

·  The change to the deduction of budget from schools for exclusions in line with DfE Guidance, from September 2018.

Forum requested a change to the report as follows:-

·  Section 3.3 to be amended to be more in line with the SEN Code of Practice by allowing for exceptional circumstances.

The document will be discussed at the next High Needs Working Group.

Ongoing discussions Adrian Whitley agreed to remain as Forum Chair for another year to avoid any conflict of interest Steve Baker may have with discussions on High Needs Funding.

Resolved

Forum noted the report

To follow

Shaun Allen summarised the revisions to the document “Funding Arrangements for High Needs Special Education Needs Pupils and Students”.  These were:-

·  The changes to place funding for schools with bases, where they are the subsidiary school for a child in the base.

·  Changes to the funding of special schools and resourced provision where there are surplus places at the end of an academic year.

·  The change to the deduction of budget from schools for exclusions in line with DfE Guidance, from September 2018.

Forum requested a change to the report as follows:-

·  Section 3.3 to be amended to be more in line with the SEN Code of Practice by allowing for exceptional circumstances.

The document will be discussed at the next High Needs Working Group.

Ongoing discussions Adrian Whitley agreed to remain as Forum Chair for another year to avoid any conflict of interest Steve Baker may have with discussions on High Needs Funding.

Resolved

Forum noted the report

Sue Ashley advised the Forum that school balances at 31^st March 2018 increased slightly to £10.2m.  Indications are that school balances will reduce significantly over the next 2 years.  The LA continues to work with headteachers and governors to ensure that budgets balance or to support 3 year plans where they do not.  The ESFA has provided the LA with an analytical tool which will be used with exiting processes to identify schools that may be at risk. 

Resolved

Forum noted the report

Shaun Allen updated the Forum on the Schools budget changes that have been made since the previous report in January.  They are:-

·  Primary and secondary schools budgets have reduced to take account of changes for de-delegation and academy recoupment.

·  Early Years budgets have been adjusted and reduced to take account of the Early Years Census and a fall in rolls for 2, 3 & 4 year olds.

·  A PFI adjustment in respect of the affordability gap.

·  High needs adjustments for 6^th forms and academy provision

Resolved

Forum noted the report

Shaun Allen informed the Forum of the Growth fund that has been included in the 18-19 budget to support schools who take pupils from Kingsway Academy. 

Resolved

Forum noted the report and referred the matter to the Formula working group to agree on the scope of the growth fund, specifically to take some account of year 7 pupils who otherwise would have gone to Kingsway.

Forum endorsed the Chair’s letter to the Secretary of State for Education expressing concerns over funding.  It was agreed that the letter would also be shared with all local MPs and the Shadow Education Secretary Andrea Rayner.

Shaun Allen outlined the year end position for the 2017-18 Schools budget which is still subject to audit.  There is an underspend of £1m mainly within Early Years.  The following amounts are to be ringfenced:-

·  £145k to support schools  who admitted Kingsway pupils between September 17 and March 18 who have not yet received funding

·  The Inclusive Practice Fund underspend of £181.5k

·  The DAF underspend of £54.7k

Resolved

Forum noted the report and agreed the amounts to be ringfenced.

Sue Ashley updated Forum on the membership.  Andy Waller, Governor at West Kirby Grammar is the new Academy rep.  The vacancy for Primary Governor rep has not yet been filled, but a further request for nominations will be sent out shortly.

The early year’s sector requested extra members to reflect the growth in this sector.  If the forum representation was based on pupil population this would provide an extra representative in the early year’s sector.

Resolved

Forum noted the report

Forum agreed to increase the early year’s representation by one, which will be the chair of the NDA.

Early Years Group - 4^th June

Formula Group

High Needs Group

Early Years Group   - 4^th June

High Needs Group   - 18^th June

Formula Group  - 19^th June

The workplan was provided for information.

The dates of the meetings for the current academic year are:-

Wednesday 4^th July 2018

The Chair thanked Andrew Roberts for all his hard work during his time supporting Schools Forum.