Agenda and minutes

Election of the Chair for the 2020/21 municipal year.  

Nominations for Chair were requested and it was

RESOLVED

THAT Elizabeth Kitcatt be elected as Chair of the Schools Forum for 2020/21 

To Note: All

Election of the Vice Chair for the 2020/21 municipal year.  

Nominations for Vice Chair were requested and it was

RESOLVED

THAT Alan Chesters be elected as Vice Chair of the Schools Forum for 2020/21.      

To Note: All

To note that there will be changes to the membership following recent nominations.   

The membership list was considered and the secondary head teacher vacancies were noted. The Forum was informed that discussions were taking place about governor nominations that might require changes to that process.

To Note: All

Apologies for absence had been received from Kim Issroff.

No declarations were made.

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair to announce the following: “In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for six months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available on DVD upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to being filmed and to the use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes. If you are addressing the Committee your contribution will be recorded and broadcast.”

Any other announcements

The Chair announced the following:

 “In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for six months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available on DVD upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to being filmed and to the use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes. If you are addressing the Committee your contribution will be recorded and broadcast.”

To note the Schools Forum Terms of Reference.

RESOLVED

THAT the Schools Forum Terms of Reference be noted. 

To Note: All

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 14^th July 2020. 

Consideration was given to the minutes of the last meeting.

Item 9 High Needs Block - Position Update, It was noted that the full report by Peter Gray had not been sent to members of the Schools Forum and that it would be circulated following the meeting.

Action By: Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the last meeting held on Tuesday 14 July 2020 be approved as a correct record.

To Note: All

There was no urgent business.

Report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation, Supporting People

This report updates the forum on the national funding position following the technical update in July 2020 of the latest Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) guidance on schools funding for 2021/22. It reminds the forum of estimates of the possible impacts on resources up to and beyond 2020/21. It then sets out a draft consultation document for comment by the forum, seeking the views of schools and other interested parties about any changes to the school funding arrangements for 2021/22.

The report recaps that the schools national funding formula (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, until 2019/20. It then explains how the updated 2021-22 NFF Guidance issued in July 2020 has now extended this arrangement to 2021/22 making 2022/23 the earliest year for the completed national funding formula proposals.

The report also indicates the current budget pressures and the revised position regarding possible draw down from (Dedicated Schools Grant) DSG reserves for the High Needs block following the uplifted High Needs DSG allocations for 2021/22 announced in July 2020.

The consultation section of the report outlines the current and any proposed changes to the local funding formula (primary and secondary schools) used for the distribution of the schools DSG block. The recommendation of no changes to the current formula follows the continued wish to continue with previous changes and to concentrate on dealing with the real terms funding reductions to school budgets caused by below inflation increases to per pupil funding in recent years without the redistributive effects of changes to the local formula at this stage. The report also explains the timetable leading up to a decision on the funding formula by the authority.

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation. The report provided an update on the national funding position following the technical update in July 2020 of the latest Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) guidance on schools funding for 2021/22.

The consultation section of the report outlined proposed changes to the local funding formula (primary and secondary schools) used for the distribution of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) block. The recommendation of no changes to the current formula followed the wish to continue with previous changes and to concentrate on dealing with the real terms funding reductions to school budgets. 

During consideration of the report concerns were expressed about any further decrease in the schools budgets, even with some limited protection for existing funding. Schools were already struggling with reduced budgets, staff costs, possible redundancies and government pay awards that had not been fully funded. Had calculations been made of exactly how each school would be impacted?   

In response, the Forum was provided with the following formation:   

·         The recently introduced national tuition programme would provide £82 per pupil to each school.  CoachBright had been recommended as the to provider tutor for Camden schools  

·         Consideration would be given to the best way to provide a direct response to each school about the impact of the catch up grant on their budgets, however the grant would not alter budget positions significantly 

·         There had been a 2% increase per pupil increase and a 3% salary increase without the additional income to support it

RESOLVED

a)  THAT the developments regarding the planned implementation of the national funding formula, as set out in sections 1 to 5 be noted.

b)  THAT the current pressures on schools budgets and the support being provided by the Council in sections 6 to 8 be noted. The timetable for consultation on the local funding formula is outlined in section 1, 

c)  THAT comments on the draft 2021/22 budget consultation document prior to circulation to schools and other relevant parties, as described in sections 9 to 10 and set out in appendix 1 be noted,

d)  In order to continue to pay providers a sustainable rate for 2 year olds, the agreement for the Early years team to apply to the ESFA for a dis-application to the Early Years funding regulations for the calculation of the hourly rate for 3 and 4 year olds (see section 6.1 (a) was noted and agreed

To Note: All

Action By:  Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation

Report of the Director of Early Intervention and Prevention, Supporting People

The report is to ensure the Schools Forum continues to be consulted on financial issues relating to arrangements for pupils with special educational needs, including the arrangements for paying top-up funding.

1.    This report updates the High Needs Block (HNB) position

As explained in the July report to the schools forum the 2019/20 overspend was not as high as previously predicted. The additional funding for 2020-21 alleviated the problem for the current year and an additional unexpected increase in budget allocation which sees Camden HN DSG increase by £4.3m from £37.7m in 2020/21 to £41.9m in 2021/22 means that, although the overall longer term trajectory remains of concern, this will reduce the immediate pressure and allow additional support to schools. 

2.    Provides an update and progress with regards the recommendations of the Peter Gray report.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Early Intervention and Prevention. The report was part of the continued consultation with the Forum on the financial issues relating to arrangements for pupils with special educational needs, including the arrangements for paying top-up funding. The report provided an update on the High Needs Block (HNB) position and progress on the recommendations of the Peter Gray report.

The following points were discussed during consideration of the report: 

·         The practicalities and time line for ensuring that schools were informed as quickly as possible about the changes; the challenges of implementing the changes by April 202; having an over overarching SEND strategy in place by September 2021 and the time scales for the different work strands

·         Two consultation meetings with school governors were scheduled, with the option for a third meeting if required. Options to maximise attendance at these meetings would be looked at. The Schools Forum would be kept informed of progress and the Council’s Supporting People, Departmental Management Team (DMT) would have responsibility for the oversight of the process to make sure that it was implemented

·         There was a great deal of work to be achieved in a short period. Peter Gray would be leading one of the teams and resources were in place to support the work 

·         There was a strong commitment across the Council for changes to the process and their implementation. There would be a report on  progress to each meeting of the Schools Forum    

RESOLVED

THAT the report be noted.

To Note: All

Action By: Director of Early Intervention and Prevention

To update the Schools Forum on the Cabinet decisions relating to the Council’s Early Years Provision and Strategy and the School Organisation Review and development of a new Education Strategy.

The Schools Forum was provided with a brief overview of recent council decisions:       

·         That consultation on Schools Organisation in Camden and the merger of Carlton School and Rhyl School had started. There would be a further report to the Cabinet meeting on 16^th December and the Schools Forum would be provided with an update on the statutory process 

·         Part of the schools organisation work would include the development of an Education Strategy for Camden. Work on reference groups to develop the strategy had started and an Education Strategy Board would be established in due course. Significant funding had been provided by the council to support the development of the strategy.

·         Special Education Needs -High Needs Block would be part of the Education Strategy discussions 

·         Review of early years nursery provision and a proposed new approach to early years investment in Camden Early Years had been agreed by the Cabinet and there would be further engagement with Gospel Oak residents as part of the discussion for Carlton and Rhyl schools      

The Schools Forum would continue to be updated on all these areas of work.

The Camden Council Planning Committee refusal of the  Abacas school building application had been appealed, refused and had been referred to the Secretary of State. 

To Note: All

To note the date and time of the next two meetings of the Schools Forum:    

·         Tuesday 8^th December 2020 at 6pm  

·         Tuesday 2^nd February 2021 at 5pm to 6.45pm

The date and time of the next two meetings were noted:

·         Tuesday 8^th December 2020 at 6pm

·         Tuesday 2^nd February 2021 at

To Note: All

There was no such business.