Schools Forum 28 November 2013

Children and Young People’s Commissioning Board

Refer to Report – main points Annual Safeguarding Report Special Educational Needs & Disability New OFSTED Framework for inspection of Children’s Services 0-5 year old Integrated Model 3

Schools Forum Operational and Good Practice Guidance October

Main Points and Link EFA issued updated guidance Section 1 covers regulations and procedural issues –Structures, powers and responsibilities –Membership, public access etc…. Section 2 covers effective Schools Forums –Training, preparation, chairing, good practice –We’ve aligned as much of our practice with this as possible 1/operational_and_good_practice_guidehttp:// 1/operational_and_good_practice_guide e/financialmanagement/schoolsrevenuefunding/scho olsforums/a /guidance-for-schools-forums- on-their-rolehttp:// e/financialmanagement/schoolsrevenuefunding/scho olsforums/a /guidance-for-schools-forums- on-their-role 5

Funding & Budget Setting Update 2014/15 6

Authority Pro-forma Tool submitted –Sets out the draft funding formula for 2014/15 –EFA do compliance testing and highlight queries, issues –No issues raised –Final submitted in January 2014 informs all schools budgets Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) Dis-applications –Applied to the EFA for 2 MFG disapplications – living wage, and former pupil retention grant (PRG) –Both approved –PRG will only be applied if necessary Update Since Last Meeting

Schools Block –finalised using October 2013 census by January 2014 Early years –Adjustment for Sept – March of 2013/14 DSG by April 2014 –April – August of 2014/15 DSG by March 2014 –Estimate of Sept – March of 2014/15 DSG by March 2014 High Needs Block –Fixed, although unclear on post 16 –Places updated – lagged system –Growth… Dedicated Schools Grant – changes and timing for 2014/15

School Budget shares and the APT which EFA use to fund academies will need to be finalised prior to finalisation of funding levels Run the Schools Block based on best information Run the Early Years and High Needs Block concurrently – require additional meeting in Feb? Issues –Schools have in the past benefitted from investment across whole DSG –Clarity in relation to funding arrangements for 2 years old roll out, and treatment of 2013/14 underspend –Post 16 adjustment to high needs block? Implications

Ran PPR to best of ability BUT it will change Await December Budget announcements, which will hopefully provide some clarity and indications (e.g. 2 year old funding, High Needs, KS 1 Meals) Still some areas being finalised locally too: –Reserves contribution –Superannuation (employers) –Work in relation to funding sub-group Way Forward

DFE have confirmed no increase to unit values in 2014/15 Unit Value – schools block £4,861.52, early years block £ 3, Pupil Number Increase – some early years, largely schools based on October census Still Finalising this position Other adjustments will be clearer after receipt of the settlement DSG Increase

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Contribution to Combined Budgets: Application for new commitment 15

Refer to Report Main points School & Early Years Financing Regulations allow DSG to make wider contribution to Children’s Services School Funding Reform introduced restrictions, any proposal to vary must be subject to Secretary of State approval £1.9M (2013/14) in this area – schools forum sub- group 2 areas for consideration for funding from here: –Domestic Violence Information Management Service –Safeguarding

Do the Schools Forum support an application to the secretary of state for new commitments against Contribution to Combined Budgets for –Domestic Violence Information Management Service - £27,504 –Safeguarding in Education Compliance Manager and 20% contribution to Review & Assurance Manager post - £63,500 Voting: All Members Decision

De-delegation: Update & Decisions 18

At the last meeting it was agreed to defer the decision on de-delegation of services to the November Meeting This was to allow for further discussion (secondary headteachers); and Further information to be provided to the primary sector in relation to some specific areas These actions have now happened De-delegated options are not available to academies although service providers can choose to offer SLA options Update

De-delegation: 2013/14 Amounts as per S251

The Schools Forum should agree the de- delegation for mainstream schools Voting: Primary and Secondary School member representatives will decide for their phase Approval – De-delegation

Schools Forum Sub-Group: Interim Report Back 22

Group have met once and have a further meeting scheduled in December Appendix A details the outcomes from the meeting and further work required In summary the group agreed that all the decisions required could be subsumed within –Schools Forum responsibility to approve central expenditure (centrally retained services) –Update and information provided in relation to Special Educational Needs & Disability Fundamental Service Review (SEND FSR) Feedback and Final recommendations to the Schools Forum at their January Meeting Refer to Report Main points