Agenda item

The Schools Forum received a report from Dena Aly, Senior Finance Analyst - CYP informing that following the confirmation of the provisional Early Years Block DSG funding for Brent, the local Early Years Funding Formula needed to be set for 2020/21.

In considering the report and during the discussion, the following key points were noted:

Ø  There had been increases to the funding rates allocated to Brent for 2-year-old, and 3 and 4-year-old provision. The LA continued to retain 5% of the total allocated to Brent, with 95% allocated to providers.

Ø  The base funding rate to providers made up 90% of allocated funding. The deprivation factor allocated the remaining 10%, based on the IDACI index, which was updated in 2019.

Ø  It was recommended that for 2020/21, the following were applied to the Early Years National Funding Formula:

a)        A universal base rate for Brent providers for 3 and 4 year old funding       of £4.53 per hour. This had increased from £4.46 in 2019/20

b)        An allocation for deprivation for 3 and 4 year funding of 10%

c)         A base rate for Brent providers for 2-year-old funding of £6 per hour

d)        A cap on centrally retained funding by the local authority to 5%

e)        The funding previously allocated under a misapplication for the          2017/18 academic year for additional 15-hour places for some 3 and           4-year-old based on local eligibility continued to be allocated to the             Under 5s’ Nursery Panel. Both PVI and maintained providers could         apply for this, to ensure the funding continued to be targeted at            vulnerable children

Ø  The Schools Forum noted the details concerning the funding from central government to the local authority; a universal base rate for Brent providers for 3 and 4-year-old funding; specialist nursery panel, additional resources for maintained nursery schools; centrally retained funding by the local authority; a base rate for Brent providers for 2-year-old funding; and early years funding based on DfE provisional allocations.

Ø  The paragraph 4.2, Table 1 of the report, provided a summary of the change.

Ø  Section 10, Table 4 of the report, laid out how the funding would be spent. The additional spend of 8p in the two year old rate was covered by increased funding in July due to increased take up.  Section 10 of the report provided the total Early Years budget.

Ø  The Schools Forum requested that setting-by-setting information; how much was being spent; who received the money and how the money was being distributed be provided at a future meeting.

Ø  PVI representative felt that minimum wage for Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) sector, pensions for teachers and others factors and restrictions presented a massive cost pressure and providers in PVI were pushed to the wall. Brent needed to be more proactive and there had been a massive underestimation of cost pressures on PVIs.

Ø  Early Years education was one of the most vital moments in a child’s education and the point at which attainment and life chances could be set. However, not all early years provisions were equal. Children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, make the best progress when taught by highly qualified early years professionals but this came at a cost. The 30 free hours offer risked negatively affecting quality and this was affecting the poorest, most vulnerable and deprived children.

Ø  Leader of the Council, Councillor M Butt, commented that given the overall impact of cuts on Brent’s children, he would like to see more noise and efforts from stakeholders outside of this room. He stated that the Forum might wish to examine how Brent fared vis-à-vis with other relevant boroughs and its neighbouring authorities. He was of the view that the Council drastically depleted its own reserves, S151 officer, auditors and the DCLG would be vigorously pursuing the leadership team to explain and put in place measures to tackle any underlining issues. Councillor M Butt added that if the central government funding situation concerning schools in the Borough continued, Brent would fall further behind amidst medium and long-term problems despite its excellent progress and efforts therefore Brent could not just accept the situation as a fait accompli. Councillor Butt informed the Schools Forum that he would raise this issue at the executive meeting of London Councils to start the conversation and raise the profile of this issue.

RESOLVED:

1.         The Schools Forum endorsed Brent’s Early Years Funding Formula for 2020/21.

2.         The Schools Forum requested average setting-by-setting information, how much was being spent, who received the money and how the money was being distributed.

 (Action 60: Dena Aly/Olufunke Adediran)