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

There was a matter arising on the School Funding Consultation.  An additional report has been added to propose an increase to the MFG for 2020-21 budget.  The final DSG is £2m more than previously indicated and initial workings show that the budget can be set with a +.5% and no capping which leaves excess funding of over £1m to create the falling rolls/growth fund. The report recommends that the MFG is increased to the maximum allowed of +1.84% to direct more to more funding to schools.  This will still leave £0.5m in a falling rolls/growth fund without a gains cap being required.

The views of the Forum was that there is no significant growth or falling rolls presently, so the falling rolls/growth fund would be manageable at the lower rate. Forum supports the model of the +1.84% MFG.

There were no other matters arising.

Anna Turnbull updated Forum on recent changes to the Minority Ethnic Achievement Service (MEAS) and future plans for the service. 

The main income for the service comes from Schools purchasing the SLA.

More than 70 languages are spoken within Wirral schools, with an increase Arabic but a reduction in Polish speakers.

The 24 Schools of Sanctuary within Wirral are:-

Forum was interested to know the position of refugees within Wirral, what the Authority’s plans are in terms of resettlement programmes, and the potential impact on schools. Housing Services will report to the next Schools Forum meeting to give an overview briefing on the service, the resettlement programme and it’s potential impact

Resolved

Forum noted the report.

Carol Fenlon updated Forum on the Early Years Working Group discussion and the consultation on the quality supplement. 

Although the uptake in all areas of early years is above national levels it can fluctuate between terms. The Extended offer has a particularly good uptake in 2019-20.

After the quality supplement consultation the quality rate for 2020-21 will remain the same, but the number of settings receiving it may reduce for a period until settings identify staff with the appropriate qualifications in each eligible setting.

Uptake of the Inclusive Practice Fund has increased and the budget may overspend in year if access continues to This will be offset by the reserve. There is a slight increase of DAF claimants this year.  This fund is also used to support a Mediquip contract providing specialist equipment to settings. 

Positive uptake of training and development with 45 settings having completed training in language development, early literacy and numeracy, which will be cascaded to other settings across the sector.  The early Years team are developing a SLCN pathway and CPD programme in response to “closing the word gap.”

Resolved

Forum noted the report.

Tarun Ghosh updated the Forum on a number of high needs areas, as follows:-

·  Confirmation that the final SEND Review Report has been received from the Premier Advisory Group and passed to senior colleagues.  It will then be passed to councillors.

·  SENDCo Locality Boards are in the process of being set up to shape future priorities and strategy moving forward

·  The Review of the pilot provision agreed in 2018 is ongoing. 

·  The Review of Individual Pupil Funding Agreements (IPFAs) is ongoing to ensure that pupil outcomes are met.  This will include setting up a Local Area Board to assess and monitor the process.

·  No further Group PFAs have been agreed since Autumn 2019.

·  A proposed change to the inclusion funding allocated to special schools at preliminary discussion level within the Local Authority.  This would be a significant reduction for one school, who the Authority are due to meet with to discuss.

·  There is an ongoing review of KIND Team with a view to move the emphasis from a clinical model to an educational approach. 

·  To consider a High Needs funding review, with a consideration to explore further the following 3 options:-

o  Option 1 – retaining the current system, which includes EHCP funding (special school top ups, resource of units, exceptional needs and out of borough funding), IPFAs, Early Years Funding entitlement.

o  Option 2 – Additional funding/interventions specific to each child using an Individual Provision Map, with annual reviews.  There would be no change in mainstream to the elements 1 & 2 funding through the formula budget.

o  Option 3 – Pupil needs based model based on the 7 Ranges Model. Range 1-3 would not attract extra funding.  Range 4a – 4d mainly mainstream funding, 5-7 top ups for special schools.

Forum requested that options 2 & 3 are reviewed and costed identifying the effect on each school.  This is a large piece of work between the SEN and Finance teams. A wider consultation would also be required.

Forum agreed the timeline as follows:-

o  High Needs working group to review the options

o  Update at the September 2020 Forum Meeting.

o  Consultation after September meeting.

o  Feedback to influence budget setting for 2021-22

The special schools representatives asked the following questions on behalf of the Special School head teachers

·  In light of the additional money being delegated to mainstream schools, what are the proposals for the distribution of the extra 6 million that the Local Authority is receiving for High Needs in April 2020. There are serious concerns that 6 of the 10 special schools already have a deficit and an additional 2 are likely to have a deficit in April 2021. The money needs to be distributed to SEN in all sectors as soon as possible.

Forum agreed that the distribution of the high needs funding should be discussed at the next High needs working Group.

·  Additional funding (8%) has been given to the LA for Hospital School Provision. Could the LA outline the plans for the distribution of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 660.

Shaun Allen outlined the Schools Budget for 2020-21 highlighting the following:-

·  minimum levels of per pupil funding of £5,000 for Secondary pupils and £3,750 per primary pupils are now compulsory in local formula from 2020-21.

·  The MFG for 2020-21 must be between +0.5% and +1.84%

·  Teachers Pay Grant and Teachers Pension employers Grant will continue to be paid for 2020-21 financial year.

·  Core NNF formula factors will increase by 4% except for FSM factors which will increase 1.84% in line with inflation.

·  Early Years hourly rates paid to Local Authorities will increase by £0.08.

·  The contribution to combined budgets and school’s retirement costs (school closure) has reduced by 20%.

·  Changes to High Needs places from September 2019

o  Elleray Park increase by 23 places to 151

o  Gilbrook places increase by 5places to 40

·  Changes to high Needs places from April 2020

o  Emslie Morgan AP reduce by 80 places to 0 following the closure of the school in August 2019, with the Alternative Provision top-up budget being increased to fund replacement provision

o  Additional fund introduced equivalent to 40 places, for schools who take pupils over their current places, with a policy to be produced defining the criteria.

·  SEN Top ups to increase by £2.8m to meet current need.

·  EHCP budget to increase by £500k to meet current need

School Forum members highlighted their concern at the sudden reduction in the combined budgets of 20% reduction in central block in combined budgets.  Council will provide this funding to ensure that services continue. Thanks to council for support.

Schools Forum also expressed their view that despite additional grant allocations for schools, Early Years, and Special Education Needs via the Dedicated Schools Grant, the increase does not do enough to offset existing and increasing pressures within schools, and the budget is insufficient to fully meet children’s’ needs.

Resolved

1.  Forum views were sought on the Schools Budget for 2020-21 and they will be referred to Cabinet on 17^th February 2020.

2.  Forum members approved the contributions to the combined budgets in 2020-21 as detailed in the report

3.  Forum members agreed to transfer the surplus High Needs funding for 2020-21to the DSG reserve to partially offset the deficit position.

4.  The School Budget be referred to Cabinet on 17^th February 2020.

The following budgets can be de-delegated: Contingency, Special Staff Costs (including TU facility time), School Library Service, Insurance, Behaviour Support, School Improvement and former ESG Costs.

The Vulnerable Children’s Budget, currently held in contingency will be moved to behaviour support.  There are increases in rates for the TU facility costs, library service and maternity/paternity de-delegation costs. 

There are no changes to the rates for School improvement & Insurance.

Only Schools Forum members, in their relevant phase, can decide if these areas should be taken out of the formula budget before it is allocated to schools. 

Resolved

1. The Primary Forum Representatives agreed to de-delegate each of the following budgets for the financial year 2020-21:-

-  Contingency 

-  Special Staff Costs including Trade Union Facilities time

-  School Library Service

-  Insurance 

-  School Improvement 

-  Behaviour support

2.  Primary Forum Representatives agreed a contribution to former ESG costs for General Duties of £371,973 

3. The Secondary Forum Representative agreed to de-delegate each of the following budgets for the financial year 2020-21:-

-  Contingency

-  Special Staff Costs including Trade Union Facilities time

-  School Improvement

-  Behaviour support

4.  Secondary Forum Representatives agreed a contribution to former ESG costs for General Duties of £56,267 

5.  Special Schools Forum Representatives agreed a contribution to former ESG costs for General Duties of £71,760. 

Shaun Allen advised the Forum on the expected position and variations with regard to the Schools Budget in the current financial year, particularly an in-year overspend of £1.23m mainly within the high needs budget. 

One school converted to academy at the beginning of the financial year which resulted in a further reduction of the DSG (and corresponding reduction in spend).

The previous year’s commitment has been overstated in respect of Independent special schools by £195k, which has led to a one-off saving. Unpaid commitments from 2018-19 are still being investigated with a potential for the projected costs to reduce further.

Resolved

Forum noted the report

Sue Ashley updated Forum on the balances and future projections at period 6 monitoring.  The projections for future years show a large decrease in overall balances, but it is noted that the projections are based current year budget and do not include any increased grant in the 2020-21 formula budget and the additional grant for TPG and TPECG.  However, some schools will gain more than others so it is important that schools where in-year deficits are still large in 2020-21 schools do not assume that the extra funding will sort out the budget issues, many schools will still need to manage their budgets with savings going forward. 

Resolved

Forum noted the report

The workplan was provided for information.

It was agreed that the current timing of Schools Forum meetings – 18:00 – 20:00 on a Wednesday are not suitable and regularly restrict attendance. The dates of the remaining meetings for the 2019-20 academic year have therefore been changed to the following:

Tuesday 12^th May 2020

Tuesday 30^th June 2020

The times of the meetings have been changed to start at the earlier time of 4pm for future meetings.

These meetings will be held in Council Chamber at Wallasey Town Hall

There was no other business.