Issue - meetings

To update the Schools Forum on the DSG High Needs Block Budget for 2024/25.

To update the Schools Forum on the DSG High Needs Block Deficit Management Plan

Folake Olufeko, Senior Finance Analyst, introduced the report that informed Schools Forum of the detailed High Needs Block (HNB) budget for adoption in 2023/24, with the following key points highlighted:

·             The HNB budget for 2023/24 included the £1.2m Schools Block transfer and a HNB top up of £3.5m allocated to Brent following the Autumn statement 2022 bringing the total budget to £83.5m, however there would be a claw back of £8.6m from the DfE to be paid directly to Academies, leaving a balance of £74.9m.

·             Due to the increased need for specialist provision placements, there had been several changes to the funding and top up funding budgets as illustrated in Appendix 1 of the report.

·             The HNB budget included a funding allocation of £0.3m for two new ARP’s, Newfield Primary, due to open in April 2023 and Elsley Primary, due to open in September 2023, plus an allocation of £0.2m for the Sunshine Inclusion Base at Willow Family Wellbeing Centre

·             The SEN services budget was notable due to the SEN transport costs that would be covered by the General Fund in 23/24 not the DSG budget.

·             The budget was threatened by the risk of rising inflation prices for SEND provision in out of borough placements and independent settings where provisions were also seeking over inflationary prices to deal with pressures. It was felt this could be partly mitigated by effective commissioning arrangements.

·             Officers advised that the budget had been discussed with the High Needs Sub Group ahead of the budget being presented to the Schools Forum,

The Chair invited The Forum to ask questions in relation to the information reported on the High Needs Block budget, as the Forum had no further questions the Chair thanked officers for their report and the Forum RESOLVED to note the content of the report detailing the High Needs Block budget for adoption in 2023/24.