Agenda item

The report of Liz Williams (Finance Lead – High Needs Sustainability) seeks to update Schools Forum on the outcomes of the consultation on the proposal to transfer 1% from the schools block to the high needs block in 2025-26.

Liz Williams, Finance Lead – High Needs Sustainability, updated the Schools Forum on the outcomes of the consultation on the proposal to transfer 1% from the Schools Block to the High Need Block (HNB) in 2025-26. The following was then highlighted:

• The background to the report was detailed as per Paragraphs 2 to 4 of the report, with the decision process being explained as Members considering the outcome of the consultation and deciding on a recommended level of block transfer for 2025-26 which would then be considered by the High Needs Sustainability Board during their meeting on 19 December for their final decision before updating the draft disapplication request to the Department for Education (DfE).
• The results of the consultation were explained as per Paragraphs 5 to 12 of the report, and officers thanked Members for promoting the consultation and acknowledged the feedback received regarding accessibility issues which they would review ahead of any other future consultations. 
• Paragraph 13 listed a number of considerations for Members to take into account when reaching a decision, and highlighted that since the closure of the consultation, the DfE had issued provisional funding settlement information for the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), as discussed under the previous Agenda Item, and that the DfE expected LAs to revisit block transfer requests in light of the higher HNB settlement.
• Finally, it was emphasised by officers that the views of schools within the consultation responses were taken seriously and that they would be taken into account when determining the appropriate method forwards.

When finalising which option to undertake, it was explained that any further consultations would be impractical given the short timescale before the next meeting of the Forum in January 2025. However, it was emphasised that the recommendation made by Members at the meeting was provisional. It was further clarified that in previous years, the Council had generally been able to afford a 0.5% transfer without impacting on the National Funding Formula (NFF), but without confirmation of the funding settlements and census data for 2025-26, officers could not make the same assumption until such time. Therefore, if Option C was recommended by Members, there was a possibility that the value may be lower than 0.5%, but it would also ensure that there would not be an impact on the NFF pending final funding figures.

Finally, Members thanked officers for considering the views of schools and for their continued hard work and emphasised the importance of continuing these conversations with colleagues across the County to best support all parties involved.

At the conclusion of the discussion, it was then:

Resolved:

The Schools Forum considered the proposed level of transfer from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block in 2025-26 and recommended that Option C be implemented: a transfer of the maximum value affordable without impacting National Funding Formula values.

In line with Department for Education requirements, please find a record of the votes of all eligible voting Schools Forum Members below: