Agenda and minutes

To note the Schools Forum membership list and any updates.

RESOLVED –

THAT the membership list be noted.

Apologies for absence were noted from Rob Earrey, Nick Hewlett, and Jacob Sam.

There were no declarations.

There were no announcements.

To consider and approve the minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 2024.

Correction – Minute Item 5

An error was identified that incorrectly stated that the minutes of the meeting on the 5 November 2024 had been approved, this should have stated that the minutes of the meeting that took place on 11 September 2024.

Correction – Attendance

Jen Allan and Deborah Isaacs confirmed that they had been in attendance at the meeting that took place on 5 November 2024.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the last meeting held on 5 November 2024 be approved as a correct record, subject to the amendments above.

There was no urgent business.

Report of the Director of Education and Inclusion.

At the recent November meeting, forum was presented with the results of the consultation document sent to schools relating to the local funding arrangements for 2025/26. There were no major objections raised from the consultation and forum confirmed its agreement of the funding formula to be used for the distribution of funds to schools for 2025/26.

Following the 30th October 2024 Budget and the most recent 6th November Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) policy document announcement, this report estimates the funding effects of that information on the current school individual NFF budgets and seeks schools forum’s agreement on the amount of Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG)  de-delegation for next year.

Due to the understandable delay by the ESFA following the recent change in government the individual schools figures are at this stage only estimated figures using the cash uplifts to the National Funding Formula (NFF) factors provided by the ESFA for 2025/26. These do not currently include a general inflation uplift rate for 2025/26 Schools block as it has not yet been confirmed.

Final actual individual school budgets for 2025/26 will be released to schools pending update of ESFA data (with the recent October 2024 census data) and its application to the local Camden schools’ formula using the Authority Planning Tool (APT) which is expected in late December 2024.

The report also summarises forecasts of the 2024/25 High Needs (HN) DSG outturn, future budgets requirements and planned DSG spending as outlined in the earlier High Needs Report to forum and also outlines current and future cost pressures on schools and high needs budgets to be used in budget planning.

This report was completed prior to any further announcements by the ESFA regarding schools national funding formula proposals. Officers will provide an oral update to the forum on any intervening development in schools’ funding at the meeting.

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

Victor Saunders, Team Leader Schools and Designated Schools Grant, introduced the report which provided an overview of proposals for the local funding formula for 2025/26. The following information was highlighted:

·       Due to the timing of the October Budget by the new government there had been a delay in the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) funding announcements for 2025/6, however, it was confirmed the final National Funding Formual (NFF) structure would not change significantly.

·       Tools had been provided to each school, outlining estimated cost increases, which would the support budget setting process. The tool accounted for projected increases in inflation, which as of November 2024, the Bank of England had projected that inflation would about 2%, by the end of 2026.

·       The report had provided an update on the core schools budget which would increase by £2.3 billion, £1 billion of which was committed to supporting special educational needs and disabilities.

·       The government had also committed to providing £6.7 billion of capital funding in 2025/26, which would go towards rebuilding, renovation and maintenance.

·       The report had stated that the high needs block (HNB) allocation would increase by an estimated £2.85 million, however further modelling had found this increase to be around £3.8 million. This was a stronger position, as this projected figure would mean the 2025/26 HNB would be within budget.

·       The funding formula had previously been agreed every six years; however, the regulations had changed, and it was a requirement for the funding formula to be consulted upon each year. Therefore, a standing item would be on the School’s Forum agenda every September. It was not envisaged there would be yearly changes, it was intended to fulfil statutory obligations.

The Chair thanked officers for the report and invited questions and comments from the Forum. Responding to questions, officers provided the following information:

·   To determine the estimated grant, the per pupil figure was uplifted by 2.3% and then multiplied by the enrolment figures.

·   Projected figures were based on the roll figures census as of October 2023, as the data for October 2024 had not yet been updated.

·   In terms of longer-term financial planning, it was noted that a spending review would take place later in the year, which would provide further detail, including the forecast level of inflation, which was estimated to be 2%.

·   The Government was expected to fund the National Insurance increase through a separate grant. However, it had not yet confirmed whether any grant would be provided for teachers' pay rises from September 2025.

·   Sometimes it was necessary for SEND pupils to go to independent non-maintained placements out of borough, these were typically high-cost and low-incidence.

·   A detailed analysis of placements was anticipated and further information on this would be provided later, which would provide more detailed information on the profile of need.

·   Updated figures were expected to be available to schools by the end of December, similar to the previous year, with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Report of the Director of Education and Inclusion.

At its meeting of 11th September 2024, an update was presented to the Schools Forum on the procurement of the new school meals contract. The current contract with Cater Link is due to expire on 31st March 2024. A further update is now available.

Following a successful tendering process, tenders were received on 10th September 2024 for a new service that is due to commence on 1st April 2025 for a period of three years, with option for two extensions of one year each, with a total estimated aggregate value of £24m. The new contract will include an option to break after two years (April 2027), which will allow the Council to move to an in-house arrangement, if possible.

The purpose of this briefing is to update Schools Forum on the outcome of the tender, which will then proceed to consideration of award by the Executive Director, Children and Learning following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families in line with the procurement strategy agreed by the Cabinet on 5th June 2024.  

Consdieration was given to the report of the Director of Education and Inclusion.

Nick Smith, Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation, introduced and summarised the report which provided an update on the outcome of the tender process for the procurement of the new school meals contract.

It was reported that interim arrangements had been in place, and they had been advantageous in terms of price per meal.

The Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation advised that whilst the new contract was underway, potential insourcing of the service would be explored. Early engagement on insourcing had commenced and a session had been arranged for 10 December 2024, which would inform potential opportunities for an in-house provision.

Responding to a question, the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation, reported that 15 schools had confirmed their attendance at the session, these were mostly primary schools due to the school meal arrangements being more diffuse in secondary settings. However, all schools were welcome to attend the session and any school that wished to join could contact the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation.

RESOLVED –

That the Forum note the report.

Report of the Director of Education and Inclusion.

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 Director of Education Commissioning and Inclusion.

Nick Smith, Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation, introduced and summarised the report which outlined the work programme and action tracker. The Forum was informed that work on the Early Years Funding item, which was due for consideration at the February 2025 meeting, had commenced and colleagues in Early Years were contributing to this. An update on school place planning would also be provided at the February meeting. 

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

To note the remaining meeting dates of the academic year:

·        Wednesday, 5 February 2025

·        Wednesday, 4 June 2025

The remaining meeting dates for the 2024-25 academic year were noted, as follows:

·       Wednesday 5 February 2025

·       Wednesday 4 June 2025

There was no urgent business.