Agenda and minutes

The Chair will welcome those at the meeting and make any announcements.

The Chairman welcomed all present to the meeting.

To note any apologies and changes to membership.

The Forum noted apologies from the following:

Jan Hatherell (Academy)

Steve Clark (WASSH)

Rev Alice Kemp (Observer)

Peter Biggs (WGA)

Claire Shaw (Wiltshire College)

Julia Cramp (Associate Director: Quality Assurance, Commissioning and Performance, School and Early Years Effectiveness)

The Forum noted the following changes to the membership:

out Alice Kemp (observer)

out Peter Biggs (WGA Secondary)

out Anne Ferries (WGA Primary)

out Claire Shaw (Wiltshire College)

in Amanda Burnside (Wiltshire College)

in Tracy Cornelius (PHF).

The Forum noted that Sue Jiggens would advise in future on filling the vacancies for Primary and Secondary Governors.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2014 (copy attached)

The minutes of the previous meeting held 16 January 2014 were presented and it was;

Resolved:

To agree and sign the minutes as a true an accurate record of the meeting held 16 January 2014.

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary or personal interests.

There were no declarations of interest to note at the meeting.

To receive a verbal update from the Associate Director for Quality Assurance, Commissioning, Performance, Schools and Early Years Effectiveness.

No update was made at the meeting.

To receive the budget monitoring report for 2013-14 and the position against the overall schools budget as of 31 January 2014.

The Budget Monitoring 2013-14 report was presented to the Forum, focusing on key variances for the following:

- Early Years Free Entitlement for 3 & 4 year olds

- Early Years Free Entitlement for 2 year olds

- Independent Special School (ISS) placements

- Top Up Budgets for maintained schools and academies

- Top Up Budgets (Post-16)

- Named Pupil Allowances (NPAs)

Resolved:

To note the budget monitoring position for the overall School’s Budget to the period April 2013 to January 2014.

To receive minutes, reports and/or verbal updates from the following working groups:

Report of the Schools Funding Working Group is attached along with the minutes of the previous meeting.

The Head of DCE Finance gave an update on the findings of the Schools Funding Working Group.

Resolved

1)    To note the Schools Funding Working Group report and minutes of the previous meeting.

2)    The Head of DCE Finance to circulate the Terms of Reference of the Schools Funding Working Group to Schools Forum members.

Report of the SEN Working Group is attached along with the minutes of the previous meeting.

The Head of DCE Finance gave an update on the findings of the SEN Working Group which included a consideration of the top up values for 2014-15. The Forum discussed residential provision for High Needs pupils and discussed the pupil premium also. The Forum discussed the impact of reduced funding for residential provision across the County.

Resolved

1)    To note the SEN Working Group report and minutes of the previous meeting.

2)    The Head of DCE Finance to circulate the Terms of Reference and a summary of the SEN Working Group to Schools Forum members.

3)    To receive a report at a future Schools Forum, detailing the review of residential provision, and its  impact on the School’s and other  budgets, for example the Social Care budget.

A verbal update of the Early Years Reference Group will be made at the meeting

A verbal update was given to the meeting by the Head of DCE Finance.

Resolved

1)    To note the Early Years Reference Group update.

2)    The Head of DCE Finance to circulate the Terms of Reference and a summary of the Early Years Reference Group to Schools Forum members.

A verbal update of the School’s Services Group will be made at the meeting.

A verbal update was given to the meeting by the Head of DCE Finance, who noted the SSWG’s first meeting since 2013. The Head of DCE Finance highlighted the need to review the Terms of Reference to identify where it fits into the structure, and to ensure it was fit for purpose.

Resolved

1)    To note the Schools Services Working Group report and minutes of the previous meeting.

2)    Agreed to review and update the Terms of Reference for the School Services Working Group at the SSWG meeting.

To update Schools Forum on final school budgets for 2014-15 including any update on Universal Infant Free School Meal entitlement, PPG conditions of grant, etc.

The Head of DCE Finance discussed the Schools Budget report updated Schools Forum on the progress in relation to the school’s budget for 2014-15 and the issues that had arisen since the last meeting.

The Head of DCE Finance stated that the Education Funding Agency (EFA) had confirmed that the final Wiltshire Schools Formula was compliant with the new regulations, and announced changes to Schools Delegated Budgets 2014-15 as detailed in the report. Further information was given regarding the budgets for High Needs Provision and the overall impact of funding changes.

The Forum discussed Universal Infant Free School Meal Entitlement and the guidance on revenue and transitional funding. The Forum discussed the Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) and changes to payments for ‘looked after children’.

Resolved

1)    To note the report and the Schools Budget 2014-15 position.

2)    The Head of Service Virtual Schools would attend meetings of WASSH and PHF to discuss the arrangements for spending the PPG Plus in 2014-15.

To receive a report on: the analysis and impact of the MFG in 2014-15.

The Strategic Financial Support Manager outlined the role of the Minimum Funding Guarantee, drawing particular attention to the total MFG Funding decrease and the impact of MFG capping.

The Strategic Financial Support Manager discussed the amount of funding awarded to schools between 2013-14 and 2014-15, along with the size of the MFG over the two years and the percentage change in both years. The impact of capping was discussed by the Forum.

Resolved:

To note the content of the Minimum Funding Guarantee paper in relation to MFG Capping.

To agree the top up values for special schools in 2014-15.

The Head of DCE Finance outlined the Special School ‘Top Up Rates’ report. The forum focussed on day and residential top up rates for special schools at the current rate, and the financial impact of amending the current rate.

Proposed changes to residential provision in Downlands school in 2014-15 would reduce the cost of residential top ups by £90k.  It was proposed that the remaining shortfall be transferred from the budget for Independent Special School places.

Resolved:

1)    To set Top Up rates for Wiltshire Special Schools in 2014-15 as follows:

                                        Day              Residential

Band 1+       £18,054        £54,508

Band 1         £12,361        £40,250

Band 2         £9,514          £33,122

Band 3         £6,668          £25,993

Band 4         £2,814          £16,342

Band 5         £485             £10,060

To receive a report on the Free School Meal Pooling Scheme, and agree whether or not to implement the scheme. (to follow)

The Head of DCE Finance outlined the Free School Meal Pooling Scheme report, and gave a summary of the scheme. The Forum discussed the impact of Universal Entitlement for Infant Free School Meals and its impact on the Free School Meals budget. The Forum discussed alternative proposals and the risk factors associated with the fund. The Forum discussed cashback payments over the last 2 years and options for redistribution.

Resolved:

1)    To amend the Free School Meal Pool from April 2014 as follows:

a.    Following implementation of the school funding reform, and the universal infant free school meal entitlement, the FSM pool will cease to be fit for purpose and should close from 31st August 2014.

b.    Part year quotations for premiums to be issued to schools based on the current rates per meal for those schools who may wish to join the pool from April to August 2014 (at a rate of 5/12ths) prior to the implementation of the universal entitlement for infants.

c.    The final balance on the pool after closure will be redistributed to schools that have participated in the pool since 1st April 2012 (the last date that any cashback was applied) based on the contributions each school has made to the pool over that period.

2)    Small school transitional funding for the implementation of the universal infant FSM entitlement to be considered alongside the allocation of capital funding.

To receive a report detailing changes to the Schools Forum Regulations. (to follow)

The Head of DCE Finance outlined the Schools Forum Regulations report, to bring the Forum’s attention to the updated Schools Forum Regulations 2012 published by the Department for Education (DfE) on 26th February 2014 in order to consider any implications for the operation of the Wiltshire Schools Forum. Forum members’ attention was drawn to changes in membership and procedures.

Resolved:

1)     Agreed to note the advice issued by the DfE in February 2014 and the good practice documents that have been published in relation to the operation of Schools Forums.

2)     Agreed to circulate ‘appendix 2’ to the report attached in the Agenda Pack to all schools and Chairs of Governors to increase understanding of the role of Schools Forum and the responsibilities of schools.

There were no Urgent Items to note.

To confirm the dates of future meetings, as follows:

18 June 2014: 1:30 pm - Kennet Room, County Hall, Trowbridge

9 October 2014: 1:30 pm - Kennet Room, County Hall, Trowbridge

11 December 2014: 1:30 pm - Kennet Room, County Hall, Trowbridge

The next meeting date was confirmed as being: 1:30 pm on 18 June 2014, to be held in the Kennett Rom, County Hall, Trowbridge.