Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair and Vice-Chair of Schools Forum for the 2024-25 academic year.

Proposed by Nicholas John and seconded by Alan Chesters, Katy Forsdyke was elected as the Chair of Schools Forum for the duration of the 2024-25 academic year.

Proposed by Alan Chesters and seconded by Bob House, Daniel Silverstone elected as the Vice-Chair of Schools Forum for the duration of the 2024-25 academic year.

To note the Schools Forum membership list and any updates.

The Chair noted that James Hadley was no longer the Headteacher at Haverstock, therefore he was no longer a Forum member.

Alan Chesters stated that he was stepping down as a member of the Forum and this would be his final meeting. The Chair thanked him for his contributions over the years.

RESOLVED –

THAT the membership list be noted.

Apologies had been received from Jen Allan, Jules Belton and Jacob Sam.

There were no declarations.

The Chair stated that going forward, all meetings of Schools Forum would be held in-person at the Town Hall, where members and officers had the option to attend online. As meetings were open to the public to attend in-person, they would no longer be webcast.

To consider and approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2024.

In relation to the report discussion of the High Needs Block (HNB) Outturn position for 2023/24, in response to a member request, officers confirmed they would provide a written response on why the HNB was not required to contribute £500,000 to the Early Years Block.

Action By - Director of Education Commissioning and Inclusion

Members requested a future report to the Forum explaining the Early Years funding mechanisms and for the Head of Early Years to be invited to the meeting.

Action By - Director of Education Commissioning and Inclusion

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the last meeting held on 4 June 2024 be approved as a correct record.

There was no urgent business.

To note the terms of reference.

RESOLVED –

THAT the terms of reference be noted.

Report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation.

Introduction

This report updates Schools Forum on the current national funding position to date following the general election on the 4th July 2024 and the formation of a new Labour government.

Background

The major decisions that are made by forum at this part of the financial year are (i) agreement for any inflation uplift to the National Funding Formula (NFF) schools block be fully passed to Camden Schools and (ii) agreement on any changes to the local funding formula.

For budget planning purposes it is reasonably expected that despite the transition to a new Labour government that:

a)    there will still be some form of national inflation uplift to the NFF Schools block in 2025/26 – which the Council is proposing be passed fully to schools when announced and

b)    that there will be little or no major changes to the current NFF funding formula (until 2026/27 at the earliest) due to the lack of a significant consultation period before which any major changes could be fully consulted upon and approved by stakeholders at a national level. The Council is again proposing the continuation of earlier decisions to make no changes to the local funding formula (subject to any statutory requirements required by the Education Schools Funding Agency [ESFA]).

Future meeting of school forum will of course be able to make any further amendment or decisions in response any major or significant government changes to funding formula or the funding levels for schools.

Current national funding formula (NFF)

The report recaps that the schools NFF was introduced in April 2018 with transitional arrangements whereby local authorities maintain a local funding formula for the distribution of schools and high needs block grants, and then explains how the ESFA extended this arrangement to 2024/25 continuing its “mirroring” requirement to reduce the difference between individual local formulas and the NFF factors annually by 10%. It is not yet confirmed if this policy or process will continue into 2025/26 making 2026/27 the earliest year for the completed national funding formula proposals.

The report also indicates the current budget pressures and the position regarding any possible draw down or addition to Designated Schools Grant (DSG) reserves

Draft Consultation document for local formula.

On the basis that the current funding arrangements are retained by the new government for 2025/26 then the draft consultation section of the report outlines the current ESFA statutory requirements to the local Camden funding formula (primary and secondary schools) used for the distribution of the schools DSG block.

Recommendations

The recommendation is that there be no changes to the current formula beyond uplifting the local formula factors in line with any general DSG inflation increase for 2025/26 (when confirmed) and subject to the any ESFA statutory “mirroring” requirements (reduce any difference between individual local formula and NFF factors by 10% per year).

This approach continues forum’s earlier aim to wherever possible continue with its current agreed local formula with minimal changes.

Timetable  ...  view the full agenda text for item 9.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation.

Victor Saunders, Team Leader Schools and Designated Schools Grant (DSG), introduced the report which covered the following areas: total national funding for 2025/26 – position at July 2024; recap on the current national funding formula (NFF) process; future NFF changes for 2025/26 which were not yet confirmed by government; pressures on Camden schools spending power; existing spending pressures; further support to schools; recent Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) support and announcements; and the consultation proposals on the London Borough of Camden local funding formula.

The Chair thanked officers for the report and invited questions and comments from the Forum. The following was discussed:

·       It was confirmed that nursery funding arrangements would be announced in a separate government announcement to the funding formula changes.

·       Due to the delay in the release of the government’s detailed proposals for 2025/26 schools funding, now expected on 30 October 2024, if necessary Camden would expedite their processes to minimise any delays in providing budget information to schools. It was noted that minimal changes were expected to be announced, however it was possible there could be a deviation to predictions based on previous trends.

·       In relation to Appendix 1c, a member stated that enhanced offer places were less financially desirable for settings to admit compared to higher hourly rate places. In response, officers stated that children not eligible for the hourly rate offer may be eligible for the Camden enhanced rate offer. There were some settings who may not be able to take on higher rate children, but were able to take on children on the enhanced offer, therefore the Camden enhanced offer was better than no additional offer. It was additionally confirmed that there were also other funding pots and supplementary funding that Early Years could access. As previously noted on the minutes item, members requested a paper explaining Early Years funding.

·       A member asked if the actual cost of teacher pay rises would be funded to schools. In response, officers confirmed that the actual cost would not be covered, which had been the same in Camden for 3-4years, and the extent to which the cost would be covered also depended on the staffing structure maturity, where more experienced staff would be awarded higher pay rises. Additionally, the government communicated that for 2025/26, the grant would be embedded into the base NFF. Therefore from 2025/26, funding for schools would be distributed based on pupil numbers, meaning some Camden schools would benefit more than others.

·       A member asked if the local authority had the ability to change systems which financially structurally disadvantaged some schools. In response, officers confirmed that Schools Forum had the ability to reallocate the DSG reserve fund, however that would go against the government’s instruction.

·       In response to members noting that larger schools below the Published Admission Number (PAN) were at a financial disadvantage due to higher proportional costs and lower funding, officers stated that London Councils  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Report of the Director of Education Commissioning and Inclusion.

This report is an information report providing an update on the High Needs Block (HNB) position and the work being undertaken to review this.

This paper provides an updated financial projection on High Needs Block spend for 2024/25 based on quarter 1 and reports an increased deficit projection since the last report.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Education Commissioning and Inclusion.

Vikram Hansrani, Director of Education Commissioning and Inclusion, and Di Osborne, Head of SEND and Inclusion, introduced and summarised the report which updated the Forum on the HNB position, presenting an increased deficit projection for 2024/25 based on quarter 1 since the last report, and the review work taking place.

As additional context to the report, Officers also highlighted the broader regional and national challenges in children’s SEND provision. The ISOS Partnership (a research and advisory organisation to the public sector) published a report on SEND in July 2024, commissioned by county councils, which provided several recommendations and reforms shared with local government associations. Several parliamentary debates about SEND have highlighted the urgent need for further reform and support in the sector. Many local authorities were experiencing DSG deficits, pushing council budgets into deficit, with many in Safety Valve Agreements (SVA). Although Camden was not in an SVA, local authorities were vulnerable to overspend. There was a critical need for the High Needs (HN) Subgroup to address monitor changes, manage provision effectively, and support schools.

The Chair thanked officers for the report and invited questions and comments from the Forum. The following was discussed:

·       A member stated that discussing financial overspend was challenging when it involved special provision for children. They noted that parents’ views were split between wanting specialist provision for their SEND children and preferring an inclusive approach in mainstream settings.

·       Officers stated there was uncertainty in predicting trends in overspend or underspend due to rapidly changing norms, reinforcing the need for the HN Subgroup to review.

·       Officers confirmed that ‘Test and Learn’ was not included in the table, which purely measured the impact on revenue compared to prior years. They explained that the Test and Learn pilots, which received several bids from Camden schools, were for the development of capital provision in schools and did not impact the HNB. Further work on Test and Learn with schools will take place in the coming months.

·       In relation to Table 1, officers confirmed that the ‘non-Camden schools’ category included school-age Camden residents with an EHCP who do not attend Camden schools.

·       A member stated that falling school rolls did not equate to fewer SEND children, and funding to schools did not cover the costs of additional resources or support staff. Officers responded that both the previous and current government education ministers had said the SEND system was broken. The notion of inclusive practice and meeting needs in public schools was a challenging dilemma. While Camden was in a better position than many other local authorities, it was still in a difficult situation. It was time to look for opportunities to move forward and work together to find solutions.

·       A member asked if SEND would be part of the government’s curriculum review. Officers confirmed that SEND would form an element and that professionals were engaged in this work. As SEND was a live topic nationally, officers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation.

Camden Council has regularly reported to Schools Forum concerning the ongoing consideration of future School Meals contract. 

The presentation on Appendix 1 sets out the Council’s current position following the Cabinet decision in June 2024.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation.

Nick Smith, Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation, introduced and summarised the report which updated the Forum on the Council’s current position and the timeline of activity in relation to the schools meals contract over the next period.

The Chair thanked officers for the report.

Members requested that as part of scoping out a new school meals service, the Council should approach schools already using the considered contractor to find out their experiences. This activity could also include headteachers visiting schools unannounced to the food provider and sampling the food. The Cabinet Member additionally suggested approaching schools that have already insourced their food delivery service to find out their experiences.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation.

This report sets out the work plan for the Schools Forum for the remainder of the 2024/25 school year (Appendix 1) and provides an update on actions requested at previous meetings (Appendix 2). 

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation.

Nick Smith, Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation, introduced and summarised the report which outlined the work programme and action tracker.

In relation to the work programme, the Forum requested a paper to the next meeting setting out Camden’s Early Years funding arrangements.

Officers confirmed there would be HN Subgroup update at every meeting.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

To note the remaining meeting dates of the academic year:

·       Tuesday 5 November 2024

·       Wednesday 4 December 2024

·       Wednesday 5 February 2025

·       Wednesday 4 June 2025

The remaining meeting dates for the 2024-25 academic year were noted.

• Tuesday 5 November 2024
• Wednesday 4 December 2024
• Wednesday 5 February 2025
• Wednesday 4 June 2025

There was no urgent business.