Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Jo Jhally (Governor), Wioletta Burra (Early Years PVI representative) and Nick Cooper (Headteacher).

None.

None.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Tuesday 20 February 2024 as a correct record.

To consider any actions arising from previous meetings.

None.

This report sets out the final Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) outturn against the budget set for 2023/24 and provides detail on the in-year 2023/24 surplus of £0.6m.

Folake Olufeko (Head of Finance, Brent Council) introduced a report presenting the final Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) outturn against the budget set for 2023/24 with detail on the year-end 2023/24 surplus of £0.6m.  The Forum noted the following key points as part of the update provided:

·            Appendix A set out the DSG outturn in more detail and Appendix B was a reflection of the schools reserve balances following the closure of the schools accounts for the last financial year.

·            The DSG reported a surplus of approximately £0.6m against a £370.6m budget.  This surplus was a movement from the forecast deficit of £0.8m reported to Forum in February 2024 and was mainly due to a £1m underspend against the Early Years (EY) Block, £0.7m underspend against the Schools Block and £0.3m underspend against the Combined Schools Services Block (CSSB), offset by an overspend of £1.4m against the High Needs (HN) Block budget.

·            The cumulative DSG deficit carried forward from 2022/23 was £13.8m.  This had reduced to £13.2m at the end of 2023/24.

·            The Schools Block underspent by £0.7m from growth funds top sliced from school’s funding allocations to cover the cost of the Choice and Fair Access Panel (CAFAI) arrangements for new arrivals to Brent schools, as well as the impact of rising rolls, mainly in secondary schools, for in-year growth in pupil numbers.  The actual growth in pupil numbers during the year was less than initial projections the budgets were based on.

·            The High Needs (HN) Block saw an overspend of £1.4m against a budget of £74.8m.  This was mainly due to the top-up funding for Post-16 provision, which led to an overspend of £1.8m and top-up funding for in-borough non maintained special schools and academies, which saw a £1.4m increase.   In addition, a £1.4m pressure had been identified against independent day and residential top-up funding due to increased number of pupils places in these settings along with £1.1m additional cost towards the education of pupils with EHCPs awaiting school placements due to increased numbers.  The Forum noted this reflected an increase in the number of children with an agreed Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) which was 3,576 as at March 2024 compared to 3,309 as at March 2023 an increase of 8.1%.

·            The pressures in relation to the HN Block had been offset by a £0.8m underspend against the recoupment income expected from other local authorities that have placed children in Brent schools, following finalised confirmation of pupil information from schools and actual charges processed, £1.4m underspend against the SEN Services budgets, following the DfE’s mandate to all local authorities to transfer all expenditure relating to SEN services and Education Psychology being charged to the DSG to the local authority’s general fund budget and a £0.3m underspend against the SEN Support budget mainly from the budget allocated for the Graduated Approach programme.

·            Brent was a part of the DfE programme called Delivering Better Value (DBV) in SEND to provide dedicated support and funding to help Local Authorities reform  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

This report details the changes to be implemented to the Scheme for Financing Schools and the Schools Financial Regulations for the financial year 2024/25, following the initial update to Schools Forum in February 2024.

Folake Olufeko, Head of Finance introduced the report, which informed the Schools Forum of the changes to be implemented to the Scheme for Financing Schools and the Schools Financial Regulations for the financial year 2024/25, following the initial update to Schools Forum in February 2024.  The Forum noted the following key points as part of the update provided:

·            The initial update presented to the Forum in February 2024 was focussed on the introduction of an accounting standard for Local Authorities from April 2024.

·            This new standard would end the distinction between the operating and finance leases, where previously Brent maintained schools needed to approach the Local Authority before engaging in any leases.  The DfE now had a list of all the items schools could lease without the need for consent.  Anything outside of this would still need to be approved by the Local Authority, which would then need to be submitted to the Secretary of State for their consent.

·            The Scheme for Financing Schools for 2024-25 had been attached as Appendix A to the report and updated, with the summary of changes itemised in Appendix B of the report and changes to become immediately effective following Schools Forum approval.

·            The updated Schools Financial Regulations for 2024-25, had been attached as Appendix C to the report, with the summary of changes itemised in Appendix D. These changes would become immediately effective after consultation with Schools Forum.

The Chair thanked Folake Olufeko for her report and asked the Forum if they had any questions in relation to the information provided.  In noting that approval of the proposed changes to the Scheme for Financing Schools and consultation on the 2024-25 Schools Financial Regulations would only be open to maintained school members on the Schools Forum it was RESOLVED, with no further comments having been raised, that the maintained schools’ representatives on the Forum:

(1)       approve the amendments to the Scheme for Financing Schools 2024/25.

(2)       Note (having been invited to formally comment) the Schools Financial Regulations 2024/25.

This report sets out how a SEND Resource Allocation System (RAS) could improve transparency and consistency of decision-making and provide some savings against the High Needs Block (HNB).

Shirley Parks, Director, Education, Partnerships and Strategy, introduced the report, which set out how a SEND Resource Allocation System (RAS) could improve transparency and consistency of decision-making and provide some savings against the High Needs Block (HNB).  The Forum noted the following key points as part of the update provided:

·            Schools Forum were informed on 20 February 2024 that a banding review was underway.  This followed a benchmarking exercise with other Local Authorities as well as research with the High Needs Block Subgroup and Early Years colleagues around developing a new resource allocation system approach.  This would be for mainstream settings including ARP school places and in both early years and post-16 settings.  This offer had been extended to post-16 settings as part of the Developing Better Value Programme to allow for a more needs led based allocation and for transparency.

·            Emma Ferrey (SEN Commissioning Consultant) was then invited to outline the detailed proposals and informed the Forum that Option 3 was being recommended as the preferred option, which would involve the introduction of the proposed RAS for all children and young people with an EHCP from age 0-25 years in mainstream schools and settings, including ARPs.

·            Ahead of the banding matrix review and as part of the Delivering Better Value (DBV) Programme, SEND Assurance work had been carried out (as a desktop exercise) to review all EHCPs of children (initially those aged up to 7, but subsequently widened to all ages) allocated 26 hours or more of support. This review, which included visits to schools and meetings with SENCOs and other staff, concluded that up to 80% of these Plans (with 26 hours+) were over-allocated.

·            Benchmarking information on funding allocated to children with SEND in early years, mainstream schools and post-16 provisions was provided at both the High Needs Working Group and Early Years’ Working Group meetings. This showed that Brent is broadly in line with other neighbouring authorities for school-age children. For early years, Brent fund significantly more (from the HNB) than all neighbouring authorities.

·            Other Local Authorities, such as Greenwich had already implemented the new matrix banding scheme and received positive feedback around ease of use.  The Children’s Social Care team were also using the same system in the same format.  The new system would provide good join up with Social Care teams and allocating funding.

·            In terms of the approach recommended the proposed SEND RAS would be used across mainstream and ARP placements in early years’ settings, schools and Further Education institutions. The descriptors for the RAS in early years would be slightly adapted to ensure it appropriately reflected both children’s needs and how need was met in these settings.  Currently in Early Years, there were two bands of funding and with the new banding system, this would increase to four bands of funding available.  The recommended Option (3) would involve the introduction of an RAS across all ages which would improve transition at key stages and between settings, promoting similar descriptions of levels of need.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Forum noted that it was Gerard McKenna’s last meeting with the Schools Forum, as he would shortly be retiring. As a result, the Chair took the opportunity to thank Gerard for his many years of service on the Schools Forum and hard work.

The Forum was also advised of the following query that had been submitted by Nick Cooper via email seeking clarity on the 3.4% increase applied to SEN additional funding this year and how this had impacted on previous years funding.  Clarification was therefore sought on whether the increase applied to 23/24 and or 24/25, as this it was felt this could be misleading in terms of any ongoing lobbying of the DfE.

In response, Folake Olufeko advised that a detailed response would be provided outside of the meeting but clarified that the 3.4% increase had also been applied for 2024-25.

To note the schedule of dates for future meetings during 2024/25 as follows:

·       Thursday 14 November 2024

·       Tuesday 10 December 2024 (additional date if needed)

·       Monday 27 January 2025

·       Thursday 13 February 2025

To note the change in the schedule of dates for 2024 - 25 as follows:

•         Thursday 21 November 2024 at 6pm via Zoom (previously October)

•         Tuesday 10 December 2024 at 6pm via Zoom - Additional meeting if required

•         Monday 27 January 2025 at 6pm via Zoom

•         Thursday 13 February 2025 at 6pm via Zoom