Agenda item

The report of Marie Taylor (Head of Finance – Children and Education) seeks to present Schools Forum with an update on the work of the F40 campaigning group which comprises the lowest 43 funded Local Authorities in the country of which Wiltshire is a member.

Marie Taylor (Head of Finance – Children and Education) referred to the report that was circulated with the agenda which sought to present an update on the work of the F40 campaigning group of which Wiltshire is a member and highlighted the following:

·            The F40 had increased to 43 members and whilst it was a club that you don’t want to be a member of because it means you are poorly funded as a local authority, it was good to be part of it and their campaign for improvements;

·            The F40 had continued to raise the profile of the lowest funded authorities and campaigns included hosting a well attended briefing for MPs in Westminster to which almost 80 MPs joined; a webinar on SEND for f40 members; and a conference for members in London earlier this year, in which Dame Christine Lenehan spoke as the Government’s advisor on SEND;

·            In addition, the F40 group had also submitted written evidence to both the Public Accounts Select Committee and Education Select Committee inquiries on SEND, before being invited to give oral evidence to the Education Select Committee. They were also invited to speak on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme from a local authority perspective on the SEND crisis;

·            The F40 intended to build on momentum and continue campaigning hard to ensure mutual concerns and suggestions for improvement during the year ahead included deficit SEND budgets, inclusion, early intervention, a lack of local authority SEND places, independent provision and ordinarily available support;

·            They would also be lobbying Government on the need to amend and improve the National Funding Formula to ensure both Schools and the High Needs Block funding are fair, and to ensure that the SEND funding challenges are resolved with both major reform and targeted investment; and

·            Of the 151 local authorities, Wiltshire are 20^th from the lowest funded high needs block per pupil and 18^th from the lowest funded gross DSG funding per mainstream pupil.  Despite the introduction of the National Funding Formula, the legacy of the ‘50% historic spend’ funding methodology for high needs continues to have a negative impact on Wiltshire’s funding allocation which is still based on 2017-2018 expenditure levels which for Wiltshire, were low.

An early year’s representative asked why early years did not appear within the F40 group that they suffer from low hourly rates being applied etc.  Marie Taylor commented that they don’t focus so much on the early years and there did appear to be a gap there not looking at early years.  She suggested that this could be taken forward by Schools Forum or as the chair of the Early Years Reference Group to the F40 group and pass on their feedback and ask them to consider this.   Marie commented that one of the the main challenges for early years was recruitment and retention and that that had not really been considered by the F40 group.

Cllr Jon Hubbard (Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills) reported that he felt strongly about the very low funding for Wiltshire and whilst the 2025-26 data did show some improvements the fundamental inequality absolutely persists and that funding for London Boroughs at 2/3 times the amount for Wiltshire was not acceptable.  He would like to make an ask of schools and whilst he intended to carry on the lobbying that the previous Cabinet Member (Cllr Laura Mayes) had undertaken and would also raise this as the Deputy Chair to the LGA’s Children’s Board, he would like to be able to support the F40 campaign and be able to provide them with tangible evidence from schools as to the impact this was having and the disadvantage our young people are having because of this.  In this instance he would like know if because of low level of funding and that if they had their fair share of funding what could have been done to narrow the education gap, etc.  This would hopefully pave the way for change and a fair funding which was not just about money but to help every child reach their full potential and that a child’s postcode should not determine their educational opportunities.

The Chair reported that this had been raised at Parliament when they want and that she would continue to lobby MPs when she met with them.  Some of the local MP’s had not been aware of the F40 group and the reasons for Wiltshire being part of it so she had sent them information so that they can be fully aware.  Cllr Jon Hubbard stated that he would be more than happy to speak with MP’s and would continue to champion Wiltshire’s plight. 

An early year’s representative reported that she would also be happy to speak to her local MP’s and that she had visited a school in a well funded area (Greenwich) as part of a network they were involved with.  There was a stark contrast to be seen when walking around to see what they are able to offer and then what follows through in the children’s outcomes.  She felt that this was the most powerful way to see the differentials and would be happy to share this with the Cabinet Member outside of this meeting. 

A primary Governor representative thought that the introduction of the National Funding Formula would remove this unfairness in funding and that others believed that to be the case and so was surprised to be reminded that the high needs block funding was remaining unfair and wanted to check that she was understanding that correctly because there was a discourse that the National Funding Forum fixes all this.  The Chair commented that this was worth raising and making clear that this was not the case and with high needs that is to do with historic funding.  Marie Taylor clarified that for high needs block funding that 50% of that is based on 2017-18 expenditure levels and in that year Wiltshire’s spend was very low.  The whole country was working towards Schools Block national funding formula. 

The primary Governor representative also asked if anyone had done any research on whether there is a correlation between the county’s funding levels and the county’s attainment levels and has that relationship been identified?  Marie Taylor reported that she had not carried out that research but felt that it would be interesting data to look at.  The Chair commented that there was something on some previous F40 reports that was looking at the attainment in relation to funding and that there might be information on their website that could be shared.

A secondary academy representative asked if there were any standard letters that could be used to lobby MPs.  Marie Taylor explained that she was in a politically restricted post so it was not appropriate for her to draft something but the Chair of Schools Forum or WASSH might like to provide something to be shared with peers or write on behalf of Schools Forum and would suggest working with the Cabinet Member to discuss what he may wish to share. 

Karen Venner has something prepared on behalf of early years that she would be happy to share and Karen Carpenter as Chair of WASSH would also be happy to write to express support for the F40 group and it was suggested that Graham Shore may wish to do the same on behalf of Primary Heads Forum.

Resolved that Schools Forum:

1.          Note the work of the F40 and the value it adds to Wiltshire as one of the most poorly funded local authorities.

2.          Consider sending letters in support of the F40 group to our local MPs to ensure that the action continues.