Schools Forum will be asked to consider the Schools Budgets for 2024-25 and make relevant decisions using the decisions matrix.
Minutes:
The Chair led Members through the decisions to made, and it was then:
Resolved:
Overall Budget
1. The Schools Forum agreed to set the overall Schools Budget above the level of the Dedicated Schools Grant Settlement. Namely, £521.635m, including the additional drawdown from the Dedicated Schools Grant reserve to support the High Needs Block budget.
Central Schools Services Block
2. The Schools Forum noted the Local Authority Decision to set the budget at £0.511m for Central Copyright Licences for 2024-25 (Section A)
3. The Schools Forum agreed the expenditure for the Central Schools Services as follows (Section B):
|
i) |
Education Welfare Service |
£0.241m |
|
ii) |
Asset Management |
£0.225m |
|
iii) |
Statutory/Regulatory Duties |
£0.810m |
|
iv) |
Admissions |
£0.502m |
|
v) |
Servicing of Schools Forum |
£0.003m |
|
vi) |
Centrally Retained Teachers Additional Pension Costs |
£0.138m |
4. The Schools Forum agreed the central spend on Historic Commitments as follows (Section C):
|
i) |
Funding for LAC Personal Education Plans |
£0.103m |
|
ii) |
Child Protection in Schools Adviser |
£0.056m |
|
iii) |
Prudential Borrowing |
£0.029m |
5. The Schools Forum noted that these allocations allowed a transfer of £0.025m to support the High Needs Block.
Schools Block – Delegated Budget
6. The Schools Forum agreed to apply all the funding factors at the 2024-25 rates.
7. The Schools Forum agreed to set the Minimum Funding Guarantee at a level of 0.5%, as being fully affordable.
8. The Schools Forum agreed the level of Growth Fund at £0.734m.
9. The Schools Forum confirmed transferring 0.55% (£2.0m) of the Schools Block to the High Needs Block, as the full National Funding Formula was affordable. This transfer exceeds the 0.5% threshold for Schools Forum approval, therefore the Department for Education require confirmation that Schools Forum Members have voted on this proposal. As such, please find a record of the voting below:
|
Member Name: |
For |
Against |
Abstain |
|
Lyssy Bolton |
? |
|
|
|
Andy Bridewell |
? |
|
|
|
Rebecca Carson |
? |
|
|
|
Helen Carpenter |
? |
|
|
|
Michele Chilcott |
? |
|
|
|
Stella Fowler |
? |
|
|
|
John Hawkins |
? |
|
|
|
Georgina Keily-Theobald |
? |
|
|
|
Graham Nagel-Smith |
? |
|
|
|
Nick Norgrove |
? |
|
|
|
Lisa Percy |
? |
|
|
|
Giles Pugh |
? |
|
|
|
John Read |
? |
|
|
|
Graham Shore |
? |
|
|
|
Mike Thomas |
? |
|
|
|
Karen Venner |
? |
|
|
|
Catriona Williamson |
? |
|
|
10. The Schools Forum noted that the previously agreed budgets for de-delegation of Central Services were set as follows:
|
i) |
Access Budget Software |
£58,255 |
|
ii) |
FSM Eligibility |
£30,218 |
|
iii) |
Trade Union
Total Budget: Academies and Maintained |
£31,577
£90,000 |
|
iv) |
EMAS & Travellers |
£589,911 |
|
v) |
Behaviour Support |
£694,579 |
|
vi) |
Maternity Supply |
£606,825 |
|
vii) |
School Improvement (LAMB) |
£459,000 |
High Needs Block
11. The Schools Forum noted the pressures on the High Needs Block for 2024-25 and the mitigating actions which reflect Year 1 of the Safety Valve Programme Plan.
12. The Schools Forum agreed to set the Special School Minimum Funding Guarantee uplift at 0.5% for 2024-25, in line with Mainstream Schools.
13. The Schools Forum agreed to set the 2024-25 Top Up rates for Special Schools, Resource Bases, ELP’s (Enhanced Learning Provision in Secondary Schools), and NPA’s (Named Pupil Allowances in Mainstream Schools), to increase by 4%, in line with inflationary pressures in schools.
Early Years Block
14. The Schools Forum agreed to set the following basic hour provider rates for entitled children:
|
i) |
Under 2-year-olds |
£9.63 |
|
ii) |
2-year-olds |
£7.17 |
|
iii) |
Disadvantaged 2-year-olds |
£7.48 |
|
iv) |
3 and 4-year-olds (universal and working parents) |
£5.21 |
15. The Schools Forum agreed up to £900 per child for 2024-25 from the Disability Access Fund, with the Local Authority to passport the funding.
16. The Schools Forum agreed to the uplift in funding for Pupil Premium to be set at £0.68 per hour, with the Local Authority to passport the funding.
17. The Schools Forum agreed to maintaining at least 95% of funding to be passed through to providers.
18. The Schools Forum agreed that the Central Early Years Teams budgets be set at £0.859m.
19. The Schools Forum agreed that the Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund budget be set at £1.142m from the Early Years Block.
20. The Schools Forum noted the deprivation and rurality increase to reflect current spending levels at £250,000.
21. The Schools Forum noted that all of other funding factors remain at current 2023-24 levels or funded levels.