Agenda item

Report of the Head of Education Commissioning and School Organisation.

This report provides an update on the position of the 2023/24 HNB and some initial comments about the 2024/25 allocation.

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

Jessica Juon, Interim Head of SEND and Inclusion, introduced the report. The report covered the following areas: 2023/24 HNB funding update; HNB Outturn from 2020/21 with updated 2023/24 projection; and the 2024/25 settlement and the use of reserves.

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

·       In relation to section 3.2, members noted that whilst it was important to use funds from reserves for one-off capacity projects, the acute current needs of schools had to be balanced. A member said that schools needed money now for provisions for SEND children because deprivation and SEND needs were increasing. The member stated their school applied to a charity for a sensory room, and they would like to see these projects funded by the surplus in HNB reserves instead. In response, officers stated they would pick up this specific case offline with the member. In a more general response, it was stated that there was a national challenge in how bandings worked and disparities between them across the country. Camden discharged funding before the statutory Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) level, but it was a key piece of learning for the authority in seeing how well funding was being discharged. A sensory room could not be funded using HNB reserve money, however there was a SEND capital extension grant pot which could be explored. Officers confirmed there would be comms on how that funding could be equitably used.

Action By – Interim Head of SEND and Inclusion

·       It was confirmed that the first HNB subgroup took place on 30 November which discussed the Camden HNB context with different school leaders, primary and secondary representatives, special educational needs and/or disabilities coordinators (SENCO), and alternative provision colleagues.  The purpose of the first meeting was to provide context with funding methodology, discuss where the challenges and opportunities were, work with special providers, and to discuss school place planning and the school estate within the Camden context. Educational Needs Grants (ENG) were a key point of discussion, and it was recognised that whilst Camden was nationally recognised for this work, ENGs did not always work across the whole piece as desired. ENGs were a good way of distributing funding quickly, but an EHCP was the correct route for children and young people who had needs to be met for the life course of their education. The next meeting would focus on clusters, ENGs, and discuss an advisory service to ensure the sustainability of the HNB. The session was used to receive feedback from school leaders in how to refine the system. Officers confirmed the membership of the HNB subgroup and the minutes and actions from the first meeting would be circulated.

Action By – Director of Education Commissioning and Inclusion

·       A member stated that they appreciated the speed of being able to access ENG funding, because there was frustration in how long EHCP funding could take, but they noted there were children accessing ENGs who should be receiving EHCP support. Members noted there was a discussion at the HNB subgroup about emergency funding which could support schools. Schools did not know in advance the total children joining their schools which would require SEND support, and schools had to meet the additional cost immediately on their existing budget.

·       Officers noted that the growth in Camden’s surplus reserves had taken place in recent years and prior to that a deficit was forecast. The overwhelming majority of other local authorities were in a deficit position. A member stated that having participated in the Forum for many years and seeing previous deficit positions, the focus should be on strategic use of the reserves because it was likely the deficit position would return. Another member stated that there should be investment in sustainable structures and specialist support services.

·       Officers confirmed there was survey to schools planned to be circulated asking for feedback on ENG funding, where Camden was aiming to strengthen the model.

·       Officers confirmed there was no national guidance on how much the carry forward limit of the HNB reserves could reach, however the Education Schools Funding Agency (ESFA) questioned the authority about the position from 5% surplus.

RESOLVED -

THAT Schools Forum note the updated High Needs Block position.