1. Schools Forum Update
Julian Wooster DCS

2. Outcome of the consultations
CAF 01; Increase in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) contribution to residential placements of children looked after with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
0 in favour, 12 against and 4 abstentions
CAF 02; DSG contribution to the SEND team to manage the transition process of children and young people in receipt on high needs funding being transferred to an EHCP
6 in favour, 0 against and 10 abstentions

3. Context of decision
Use of DSG HNB for children and young people (CYP) with SEND specifically those with EHCP and who require education otherwise due to permanent exclusion or medical need
New National new consultation which clearly states that the DSG is a ring fenced grant and must consider the DSG as a whole
Supports LA requirement and schools partnership duties to support collective responsibility for the most vulnerable CYP, those who are CLA and have SEND
Ability to manage the DSG locally and return a balanced budget within 3 years through using powers under Statute
Secretary of State expectation of above

4. CAF 01 Increase in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) contribution to residential placements of children looked after with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
Reasons for taking the decision
To redress the low number of CLA jointly funded by the CSC and High Needs Block where the young person has an EHCP, including young people placed in a CSE specialist residential.
To bring Somerset into line with other local authorities use of High Needs Block of the DSG
The costs are based on actual placements and we expect these will reduce
Most of the residential units have an holistic education approach – reflecting the children’s difficult school experiences
Of the modelled children (28) only one had 90%+ attendance
Impact of lack of education provision on life outcomes and placement stability

5. Underpinning Model of Integrated Education, Health & Care Provision

6. CAF 01 : Criteria
The amount will depend on the type of placement, but follow the proposed criteria set out below:
Existing-A child with an EHCP and is a CLA with integrated education ​
DSG 50%: CSC 50%​
7 without an EHCP but in residential care related to Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).​
A child with an EHCP and is a CLA attending a maintained school, academy or FE college ​
DSG 10%​
A child with an EHCP and is a CLA with separate independent education​
A child has no EHCP but is in residential care and has SEN support ​
Shared DSG ​
Central Schools Services Block up to £10,000 ​ ​
High needs block top up to 10%​

7. CAF 01 Actuals to be based on Individual Children
SCENARIO
CSC : Education
Current Number
Current Comparable costs
Proposed Number
Proposed Costs
1. 50% : 50% 10
£644,848 20
£1,910,323
2. 90% : 10% £0 15
£233,451
3. 90% : 10% 8
£140,392
4. 90% : 10%
£200,000 19
£392,055
Totals
£844,848
£2,676,221

8. Reasons for taking the decision
CAF 2: DSG contribution to the SEND team to manage the transition process of children and young people in receipt on high needs funding being transferred to an EHCP.
Reasons for taking the decision
To implement a new funding system across schools to support an equitable redistribution of funding and to align with new requirement for children and young people with EHCP’s
To support increased activity and respective staffing capacity required in the SEND team to manage the 3 year transition for 1,200 pupils in receipt of high needs funding who will require a statutory assessment to an EHCP.
This decision is time limited until the completion of the additional activity- 31st March 2020 subject to timetable compliance
Bring Somerset in line with other LA’s and statutory requirements
18 plans have not been received to date
In context of a 78% increase in assessment requests from 2013 to 2018

9. 5 Key spend areas in 18/19 within the High Needs Block
£1.0 m ?
£2.0 m ?
£2.0 m ?
DSG HN budget £49.7m

10. 1. Place funding & Independent fees Combined £21.145m
Cost drivers
Constraints
Number of planned places at £10k each for pre 16 special and £6k per place for resource bases
Number of planned places at £6k each at FE
Number of placements made in Independent schools
Pupil need type and level of need
Planned place rates are determined by EFSA
Placement over planned numbers must be funded in full (pro rata)
EFSA funding is lagged
Market driven- requires individual contract management
Opportunities £2m
Mitigation and savings measures
Capital investment in special schools places, free school bids or expansions for less expensive Local state funded- all ages
Focussed 50% reduction in day places
Joint funding for complex children and young people day or residential
Regional approach to framework commissioning, develop market and new providers
Mainstream inclusion as first choice- support inclusive practice and increasing use of teaching schools to help develop School to school support
Further develop place planning across all phases -reduce unused places/agree occupancy /all band 1 and 2 to mainstream
Review most expensive independent placements , INM project plan
Improve contract monitoring and oversight & link to casework
Improve on framework placements
Use of personal budgets and personalisation
Utilise all funding opportunities inc Free school bids
1. Place funding & Independent fees Combined £21.145m
245 Independent placements (181 day/ 64 residential)
660 Special schools places
197 PRU places for day 6 permanent exclusion and medical
58 Specialist resource bases
382 FE college places – element 2 place funding
10% current special school places ½
Total 26 of the 38 will potentially move within 3 years
22 could move subject to agreement by 2019
11 could move subject to agreement by 2020
8 could move subject to agreement by 2021

11. 2. Alternative provision – partnership £4.70m
Cost drivers
Constraints
Partnership places cost 3.5 times as much as AWPU plus notional
Increased year on year number of permanent exclusions (101+) increasing primary
Full time entitlement
Pupil need type and level of need
80% funding on KS3 & 4 pupils
Day 6 requirement for permanent exclusions
Slow pace of achievable change
Agreed strategic direction across age phases
Historical culture
Zero tolerance behaviour policies
Opportunities £2m
Mitigation and savings measures
Develop strategic approach to behaviour support with outreach at KS1, 2 and 3
Invest in early intervention resourced provision
Peer panel to gatekeep places
Year 11’s to early college
Reduce partnership places
Reinvest for early intervention
Agree zero exclusion policy
Retain YP on roll at all times - AWPU funding remains in system
Exclusion “charge” for high excluders
School to school support & challenge
Develop shared aligned outreach
2. Alternative provision – partnership £4.70m
Pupil referral unit partnership places
School commissioned partnership places including year 11 (£4.1m)
Outreach support:
PRU outreach (£622,000)
80% of funding in ks3/4
161 places and 51 Year 11’s

12. 4. Services £5.9m Inclusion resources; Learning centres (£200,000)
Cost drivers
Constraints
Number of statutory assessment requests made (EP’s, VI/HI )
Accurate case recording and tracking
Parental expectations and confidence
Expertise in mainstream/local special schools
Retention and recruitment of specialist staff
Slow pace of achieving change
Historical commitments and expectations
Opportunities £1.0m
Mitigation and savings measures
Align services and achieve management efficiencies
Explore co located and integrated teams through co -production
Develop collaborative approaches to further upskill SENCO’s and teachers through workforce development
Mainstream inclusion as first choice- support inclusive practice
Flexible approaches –personal budgets
Plus 2% consultation (see Top up)
Review Learning support centres
Develop school to school support and use of teaching schools
Explored pooled budgets and shared service costs with CCG
Develop shared aligned outreach
School to school support & challenge
4. Services  £5.9m
Inclusion resources; Learning centres (£200,000)
Learning support (£589,200)
ASC communications (588,800)
Ed Psych’s (£1,219,00)
HI and VI (£1.089,800)
PIMS (£528,100)
Portage (£318,400)
SEND integration (£226,100)
Area SENCO’s (EY) (£560,200)
Special school outreach (£366,900)
Support for SENse (£100,000)
Hospital provision ( £237,900)
OT (£125,400)

14. Central Schools Services Budget – historical commitments
Planned reduction in spend on historical commitments to support the DSG strategic deficit recovery plan (further reductions subject to consultation)
Baseline
2017/18
Planned spend in 2018/19
Savings achieved in 2018/19
Further savings planned for 2019/20
Headteacher Support
£0.276m
£0.219m
(£0.057m)
(£0.000m)
Prevention, intervention and raising achievement (including partnership)
£0.755m
£0.713m
(£0.042m)
Contracts & contract support
£0.257m
(£0.019m)
(£0.209m)
Core ICT & Education Technology
£1.659m
£0.770m
(£0.890m)
(£0.199m)
Vulnerable Learner Support
£0.822m
PFSA’s
£1.888m
£1.777m
(£0.111m)
(£0.079m)
Education Welfare Service
£0.515m
(£0.434m
(£0.081m)
Total Combined Budgets
£6.192m
£4.993m
(£1.199m)
(£0.487m)
Combined Budgets of £6.192m based on the 2017/18 budget – DfE use as the baseline for funding in 2018/19 and 2019/20, awaiting whether this would continue in 2020/21 (2019 Spending Review)

15. DSG Projected Outturn 2018/19 (month 7)
DSG 2018/19 Settlement
Schools
Central Schools Services
High Needs
Early Years
Total DSG
282,866,761
8,288,670
49,712,719
28,767,708
369,635,858
B/fwd from 2017/18
673,900
(5,620,100)
979,700
(3,966,500)
Transfers during 2018/19
(1,178,000)
(1,226,000)
2,404,000
Adjustments to funding / use of reserves
(282,900)
(234,100)
(517,000)
Projected outturn for 2018/19 (month 7)
281,688,761
7,345,570
51,420,919
29,017,708
369,472,958
Projected B/fwd to 2019/20
391,000
(4,924,300)
495,600
(4,037,700)
Impact of Financial Imperative proposals
(46,000)
(1,247,033)
(37,917)
(1,330,950)
Revised projected B/fwd incl FI proposals
345,000
(6,171,333)
457,683
(5,368,650)

16. Any Questions?