Agenda and minutes

A Timmins opened the meeting in view of the fact that there was no Chair currently appointed to the Forum.

Apologies were received from J Barry, L Howard, L Bray, N Toplass and E Pate.

G Linford advised that he had been placed in the wrong category on the Forum Membership. This would be rectified for the next meeting.

Members to declare any interests in matters to be discussed at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2021 as a correct record.

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 14th June 2021 were a correct record, subject to typographical errors identified on pages 10 and 12 being rectified.

Forum members to elect a Chair and Vice-Chair.

The Forum were invited to nominate to the positions of Chair and Vice-Chair for the forthcoming year.

No nominations were received.

In view of this, A Timmins invited nominations for one of the Forum Members to Chair for this meeting only.

D Irish was nominated and duly accepted the position of Chair for this meeting only.

D Irish in the Chair.

In view of the above, this agenda item would, therefore, be added to the agenda for the next meeting in order to appoint to these two positions on a permanent basis.

Forum members to note the reprot.

Schools Forum received a report which provided the Forum with an overview of the government consultation which had been issued on 8th July 2021 on “Fair school funding for all: Completing our reforms to the National Funding Formula – Government Consultation”.

The report, which attached the Government’s Consultation Document as an Appendix, detailed that the consultation was aimed at local authorities, schools and academy trusts and any other interested person/organisation.

The deadline for consultation responses was 30th September 2021, with the expectation that the results and the government’s response would be published during autumn 2021. The government planned to publish a second stage consultation, with more detailed proposals, following feedback to this first stage consultation.

The government’s long-term goal was for the National Funding Formula (NFF) to be used in determining every school’s funding allocation by the same national formula, and that the role of local authorities be removed in calculating a local formulae. This would tie in with the government ambition for all schools to be part of a multi-academy trust.

The Government had also indicated that it wanted to move from a “soft” to a “hard” NFF. This would mean moving from the current position of calculating funding allocations in relation to each individual mainstream school, based on its particular characteristics, (Pupil led and school led). These individual school-level allocations were then aggregated for each local authority (LA). The LA, from its aggregated total, would then determine individual schools’ final funding allocations through a local formula.

A “hard” NFF entailed moving to a system whereby all individual schools’ funding allocations were set directly by the NFF without substantive local adjustment.

The government had stated, in recognition of the impact of the pandemic, that they did not propose, at this point, to set a fixed target date by which the hard NFF would be adopted fully.

The government had stated they would consult separately, at a later date, on changes to the funding arrangements for high needs, special schools and alternative provision, in light of the proposals in the SEND Review.

The report went on to highlight a number of proposals contained within the consultation document for the Forum’s information / consideration.

Schools Forum noted the report.

Forum members to receive a verbal update.

S Lilly provided a verbal report on this item.

S Lilly advised that the Local Authority was able to set its own local funding arrangements with schools, in consultation with the Forum.

Historically, this had been designated to a sub-working group constituted with a number of representatives from amongst the Forum Membership, ensuring a fair representation from the membership categories. It had historically been carried out this way as it was deemed easier to undertake in a smaller group, rather than at a full meeting of the Forum.

The working group would meet and then make its recommendations back to the Forum to consider. Once content with the recommendations, the Forum would then, in-turn, forward the recommendations on to the Cabinet for approval.

In view of this, nominations were sought from amongst the Forum’s membership to constitute the working group.

Agreed that the following individuals be appointed to the LA Formula Working Group: -

• M Arnull

• S Baker

• G Linford

• J Topham

Forum members to note the contents of the report based on the “Schools revenue funding 2022/23 - Operational guide” and “The High Needs Funding 2022/23 operational Guide.

Schools Forum received a report which provided the Forum with an overview on the “Schools Revenue Funding – Operational guidance” and “The and high needs funding 2022/23 policy document” which allowed for the planning of the local schools funding formula for that year.

The Department for Education (DfE) had acknowledged the essential role that local authorities had played to support education as the Country had dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. The DfE stated that they had made limited changes to the funding arrangements in order to ensure that funding was delivered as smoothly as possible to schools.

The DfE had also published the provisional National Funding Formula (NFF) allocations at local authority level for the schools, high needs and central schools services funding blocks for 2022/23. The DfE would use the NFF to calculate the blocks within the dedicated schools grant (DSG), which would be issued to authorities in December 2021.

Table 1: National Funding Formula – Summary

The DfE intended to publish the early years national funding formula (EYNFF) operational guide for 2022/23 in the autumn and provisional allocations would be issued to authorities in December 2021.

The key changes to the schools NFF in 2021/22 were: -

NFF factor values had increased by:

• £10,000 to the maximum sparsity values.

• 3% to basic entitlement, free school meals at any time in the last 6 years (FSM6), income deprivation affecting children index (IDACI), lower prior attainment (LPA), English as an additional language (EAL) and the lump sum.

• 2% to the floor, the minimum per pupil levels and free school meals (FSM).

• 0% on the premises factors, except for PFI which had increased by RPIX.

Data on pupils who were eligible for FSM6 was now taken from the October 2020 school census instead of the January 2020 census, to make the factor more up to date and bring it in line with arrangements for other NFF factors as well as the pupil premium.

• In calculating low prior attainment proportions, data from the 2019 early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) and key stage 2 (KS2) tests had been used as a proxy for the 2020 tests, following the cancellation of assessment due to coronavirus (COVID-19).

• Pupils who had joined a school between January 2020 and May 2020 attracted funding for mobility based on their entry date, rather than the May school census. (The May 2020 census had not taken place due to coronavirus (COVID-19)).

• Further to the consultation on changes to the payment process of schools’ business rates, schools’ business rates would be paid by ESFA to billing authorities directly on behalf of all state funded schools from 2022/2023 onwards.

• The department had confirmed the following aspects of the high needs  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7/21

Forum members to note the contents of the report and data provided.

Schools Forum received a report which provided the Forum with the High Needs Block (HNB) monitoring position as at 31 August2021, which was projected to 31 March 2022, together with the special provision occupancy as at 31 August 2021.

The HNB current grant for 2021/22 was £53.240m. The anticipated in year surplus as at 31 August 2021, projected to 31 March 2022, was £1.332m.

The balance bought forward as at 1 April 2021 was £0.597m surplus. Appendix 1 to the report provided further details in relation to the 2021/22 High Needs Block Budget Allocation, the actual expenditure as at 31 August 2021 and the variance from budget.

Variations:

Variation 1

Out of borough placements, other associated costs, showed a £20,000 saving and was due to the reduction in room hire costs for the delivery of support to students that were awaiting a school roll. During COVID these had been delivered virtually and from September 21 it was anticipated that these would be delivered face to face.

Variation 2

Sandwell Community School - Additional funding of £200,000 had been included here to be prudent to fund pupils placed at SCS which required top up that was not included in the funding which already been allocated. SCS had funded 180 places at £10,000 per place, plus Top Up for 80 places. This area was currently under review by a Task and Finish Group.

Variation 3

High Point had opened on 1 September 2021. It had initially been thought that the place element would have to be met through the HNB. The DFE clarified in July 2021 that this would be funded directly with no impact on Sandwell’s HNB.

Variation 4

An amount £480K from the Early Years Grant had been used to offset the early support for pupils in private provider settings and those in Mainstream schools had been set against the schools’ delegation and were not shown separately. The £480,000 did not cover the full costs of meeting the needs of the pupils in these settings. Questions had been raised at the SEND Consultation Working Group regarding the level of grant and the possibility that this could be increased.

Variation 5

The total variances equated to a saving of £349,865 across 9 service areas. These were mainly due to staff turnover, maternity leave, opting out of the LA superannuation scheme and full time budgeted posts covered by staff on reduced hours.

Variation 6

The Preventing Secondary Exclusions Team had not been appointed to, so there was a saving of £198,600 in 2021/22. Various options for utilising these funds would be put forward as part of the SEND review Consultation which would be issued shortly.

Variation 7

Alternative Provision had been budgeted at £843,000 in December 2020. Based on the leavers in July 2021, and the close monitoring of placements by the Alternative Provision Panel, the saving was currently predicted to be £313,000. Any changes in this would be reported and evidenced in future monitoring reports.

Variation 8

SEN Developments had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8/21

Schools Forum received a report which provided the Forum with an overview of the Independent School spend and pupil numbers for 2020/21 and the budget and projected spend for 2021/22.

At the meeting held on 14th June, the Forum had requested information on the numbers of pupils occupying these provisions and the associated costs.

The data on pupil numbers had been supplied previously following the presentation of the monitoring reports and this had also been distributed outside the meetings.

The data in the report did not show any major fluctuations to previously circulated data, but it did include additional information that provided background and substance to the decisions. All data was as at 1 April 2021.

Appendix 1, to the report, showed the following: -

1.    The geographical area the educational establishment sat in

2. The school name,

3. The average cost of the placement

4. The number of pupils supported in the Summer 2020, Autumn 2020 and Spring 2021.

5. The Spend for 2020/21 for the period 1/4/20-31/3/21

6. The analysis of Category of Need for each establishment

7. The Budget for 2021/22 for the period 1/4/21-31/3/22

8. Male / Female split

There were 105 pupils on roll in Independent special schools as at 1 April 2021 and Table 1, below, showed the analysis by need, whether Sandwell schools were sent consultations prior to placement and the subsequent responses and how many pupils had already attended a specialist provision prior to being placed in an independent setting.

There were 4 positive responses from Sandwell schools and the reason for placing out of borough were: -

• 1 Tribunal direction.

• 1 Following Mediation.

• 1 Parental Preference.

• 1 In borough offer withdrawn.

There were 8 cases where Sandwell schools were not consulted and the reasons were: -

• 1 was placement in 2018 where Shenstone was at capacity, so consultations were not sent out. When it was noted that this

was happening an instruction was issued that consultations would be sent regardless of occupancy. • 1 required a therapeutic provision as part of the placement that was not available in Borough.

• 1  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9/21

Schools Forum received a report which provided the Forum with an overview of the Alternative Provision spend and pupil numbers since 2016/17, the budget and projected spend for 2021/22.

The Alternative Provision budget had seen large increases in spend year on year from 2017/18 onwards which had put financial pressure on the High Need Block Grant. Table 1, below, showed the actual AP spend, annual budget and variance for the financial years 2016/17 to 2020/21 as well as the approximate number of pupils being supported in each year, as at 1 April each year. The biggest pressure against budget reported, was in 2018/19.

In order to monitor and control the number of pupils placed in Alternative Provisions and the rationale behind the placements, an Alternative Provision Panel had been set up from 1 September 2019. The membership now included representatives from The Local Authority, The West Midlands Police, The Children’s Trust, the Independent Chair of the Fair Access Panel and the Pupil Referral Units.

The numbers of pupils had reduced naturally over time, as pupils left the provisions at the end of year 11 and new pupils entering Alternative Provision had reduced considerably since the introduction of the Panel.

The Budget for 2021/22 is £843,700 and included an in-year allocation of £540K to provide for any international new arrivals that could not be realistically placed on a school roll and any impact of COVID19. The estimated outturn already showed a reduction to budget following the cessation of a contract.

2020/2021 Outturn

Table 2, below, showed the pupil numbers against each provider and the costs which had been incurred in 2020/21 financial Year 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021.

2021/22 Projection

Table 3 below, showed the projected numbers against each provider and the current estimated costs for the financial year 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022

Dates of future meetings.

Venue to be confirmed:

8 November 2021

13 December 2021

17 January 2022

14 March 2022

20 June 2022

The dates of future Forum meetings were noted, as set out below:-

8 November 2021

13 December 2021

17 January 2022

14 March 2022

20 June 2022

Furthermore, it was agreed that the Clerk canvass Members in relation to whether the next meeting should be held virtually / or in person. The next meeting would be held in line of where the majority of Members had voted.