Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room One, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL

Contact: Katrina Cope  Senior Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

1.

Election of Chairman

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That Gavin Booth be elected as the Chairman of the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum for 2019/20.

 

GAVIN BOOTH IN THE CHAIR

2.

Election of Vice-Chairman

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That Steve Barnes be elected as the Vice-Chairman of the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum for 2019/20.

3.

Apologies for Absence/Replacement Members

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Allison Sunley (Governor, Great Steeping Primary School), Martin J Kyle (Headteacher, St Faith & St Martin C E Primary School), Catherine Stratton (Headteacher, Saxilby C E Primary School), Michele Anderson (Headteacher, Spalding High School), Caroline Saxelby (Headteacher, Walton Girls' High School and Sixth Form, Grantham), David Scott, (Headteacher, Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School, Grantham), Lea Mason, (Executive Headteacher, Lincolnshire Wolds Federation, Louth), Lynsey Norris (Faith Representative), Helen Stokes (Branch Secretary, UNISON) and Julia Merivale (Manager, Trinity Day Nursery).

4.

Declarations of Members' Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of members' interest made at this stage of proceedings.

5.

Minutes of the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum meeting held on 24 January 2019 pdf icon PDF 186 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum meeting held on 24 January 2019 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

6.

Chairman's Announcements

Minutes:

The Chairman advised that following the recent Lincolnshire Schools' Forum election, the newly elected representatives were:-

 

Primary Maintained - Headteacher – Mrs Catherine Stratton

Primary Maintained – Governor – Ms Allison Sunley

Special Academy – Headteacher – Mrs James Ellis (Member from 20 July 2019)

Primary Academy – Headteacher - Mr Gavin Booth

Primary Academy – Headteacher – Mr Simon Morley

Primary Academy - Headteacher – Mrs Katie Gravil (Member from 20 July 2019)

Secondary Academy – Governor – Mrs Rachel Barrett

 

The Committee was advised further that there were still some governor vacancies to be filled, and that arrangements for a future election would be considered.

 

The Chairman highlighted that for four members of the Forum, their term of office was due to come to an end on 19 July 2019, and that this meeting would therefore be their last meeting.

 

On behalf of the Forum, the Chairman extended thanks to Nigel Sisley (Special School Maintained Governor), Marilyn Bell (Primary Maintained Governor), Helen Hilton (Primary Academy Headteacher) and Lea Mason (Special Academy Headteacher) for their contribution and support to the Forum.

7.

Section 251 Budget Statement 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 133 KB

(To receive a report from Elizabeth Bowes, Strategic Finance Manager, Schools Finance Team, which provides the Schools' Forum with a copy of the Section 251 budget statement for the 2019/20 financial year)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Forum gave consideration to a report from Elizabeth Bowes, Strategic Finance Manager Schools Finance Team, which provided a copy of the Section 251 budget statement for the 2019/20 financial year.

 

The Forum noted that the Local Authority (LA) was required under Section 251 of the Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 to prepare and submit an education and children's social care budget statement for the relevant period to the Secretary of State for Education (DfE) by 30 April each year.  The Forum noted further that the Section 251 return was intended to provide a clear picture of the LA's planned spending on its schools budget, de-delegated items; high needs budget, early year's budget, central provision within the schools budget, and children and young people's services.

 

It was reported that the information for 2019/20 had been submitted to the DfE via its collection and management system for education. It was reported further that the LA, to ensure compliance with statutory requirements published the Early Years report, the LA table report and the Schools Table report in the 'Downloads' section of the LCC's website.

 

The report presented highlighted that for 2019/20, the Dedicated Schools Grant comprised of four blocks: the Schools Block, Central Schools Services Block, High Needs Block and Early Years Block, with each block having been determined by a separate national funding formula.  It was highlighted further that the Schools Block continued to be ring-fenced and that LA's were only able to transfer 0.5% of their Schools Block funding to an alternative block, following consultation with all schools and academies and the approval of the Schools Forum.  No budget transfer was planned for in 2019/20 from the Schools Block in Lincolnshire's funding arranagements.

 

Attached to the report at Appendix A was a copy of the Schools Funding arrangements for 2019/20.  The table provided an overall picture of the funding being allocated direct to schools and high needs delegations, and the amount being spent on education centrally and children's social care.  The Forum was taken through the details shown in Appendix A.  The percentages of funding devolved to schools through each of the blocks were detailed within the main body of the paper on page 14.

 

The Forum was advised that for 2019/20 Lincolnshire had received c.£5.776m of protection funding following the implementation of the government's new High Needs national funding formula to provide stability against its existing funding level.  The Forum was advised further that the government had also responded to national concerns over the increasing costs to support growth and increased complexity of young people requiring additional support; Lincolnshire had received a one-off allocation of £1.533m to its High Needs Block in 2019/20.

 

It was reported that this was the final year of the four year funding settlement for 2019/20; and that funding levels from 2020/21 were subject to the government's next spending review.  The Forum was advised that officers from the Education Skills Funding Agency had indicated an announcement on schools funding for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Annual Report on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities pdf icon PDF 267 KB

(To receive a report from Sheridan Dodsworth, Children's Services Manager, SEND, which provides the Schools' Forum with an annual update on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as required by the Schools' Forum Regulations)

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report from Sheridan Dodsworth, Children's Services Manager, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), which provided the Forum with an annual update on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities as required by the Schools' Forum Regulations.

 

The report provided the Forum with an update on activity within the county; an overview of the high needs costs throughout 2018/19; an update on mediation, tribunals and the SEND National Trial for Single Route of Redress; an update on the Building Communities of Specialist Provision strategy; and a summary of the Local Area Ofsted/CQC Inspection.

 

In guiding the Forum through the report, the Children's Services Manager, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities made reference to:

 

·         The National Context – The Forum was advised that in January 2019 there had been 354,000 children and young people (0-25) in England with an EHC Plan, this had been an increase of 32,400 (11%) from January 2018;

·         The Lincolnshire Context – The Forum noted that in January 2019 there had been 106,488 pupils on roll in Lincolnshire's maintained and academy schools; of these 16.16% were in receipt of some form of provision for their SEN requirements.  It was reported that unlike the rise in England, the number receiving SEN support had dropped from 13% to 12.9% in Lincolnshire; and that there had been more pupils with an EHC Plan, this figure had increased from 2.8% in 2018 to 3.26% in 2019;

·         Activity 0-25 years  - It was reported that there were 4,654 children and young people (0-25) with an EHC Plan; and that this had been a 2% increase from January 2018.  Full details relating to the activity for 0-25 years was shown on page 24 of the report.  Page 25 of the report provided details relating to placements for young people; and a table at the bottom of page 26 provided a breakdown of EHC Plans by Age Group;

·         It was highlighted that SEND remained more prevalent in boys than girls; and that in Lincolnshire, 16.09% of boys were on SEN support compared to 9.64% of girls; 

·         The Forum was advised that Lincolnshire was consistent with the national trend of Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD) being the most commonly identified primary need overall. It was noted that Lincolnshire was higher in overall percentage of pupils with MLD at SEN Support, 30.97% compared to 24% of all pupils with SEN Support for MLD nationally.  It was highlighted that in Lincolnshire MLD had increased from 29.7% to 30.97%;

·         Annual reviews – The Forum noted that the number of Annual reviews out of timescale had reduced; however, at the start of the academic year 2018/19 there was still around 400 reviews to process.   It was noted further that this backlog was growing, and that the service was currently reviewing the capacity required ensuring that all elements of the SEND process were legally compliant.   It was highlighted that no additional funding had been allocated to LAs from central government to respond to the growing demands on the LA functions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Annual Report for Early Years pdf icon PDF 240 KB

(To receive a report from Michelle Andrews, Children's Service Manager, Early Years, which enables the Schools' Forum to consider the Early Years annual report)

Minutes:

The Forum received a report from Michelle Andrews, Children's Services Manager, Early Years, which provided the Forum with the Annual Report for Early Years and information on the delivery and performance of Early Years and Childcare across Lincolnshire.

 

In guiding the Forum through the report, Geraldine O'Neill, Lead Consultant – Early Years Entitlement, reference was made to:-

 

·         The six key areas of responsibility for Early Years and Childcare Support;

·         The Early Years Entitlement for 2, 3 and 4 years olds.  The Forum was advised that all three and four year olds were entitled to 15 hours a week free early learning.  It was reported that take up for this entitlement was currently at 95% nationally and 97% in Lincolnshire;

·         Two Year Old Early Education Entitlement – It was highlighted that Lincolnshire had seen a decrease in the number of children potentially eligible based on lists produced by the Department of Work and Pensions.  It was highlighted further that as at the spring term 2019, Lincolnshire's take-up was at 80% with 2,093 children accessing a funded place.  The take-up nationally was 72%.  It was noted that the number of Early Years providers delivering funded 2 year old places continued to rise and currently there was 580 providers registered to deliver 2 year old places in Lincolnshire, which represented 85% of all providers delivering free education places to 3 and 4 year olds;

·         Early Years Pupil Premium -  It was reported that Early Years Pupil Premium was additional funding for providers to improve the education they provided for disadvantaged three and four years olds;

·         Disability Access Funding – The Forum was advised that for 2018/19, a total of 157 children had qualified for disability access funding in Lincolnshire.  The Local Authority continued to encourage providers to seek parent's permission to check eligibility for this additional funding to maximise take-up;

·         30 Hours Entitlement – It was reported that currently 96% of children were accessing a place in Lincolnshire; and that this exceeded the national take-up of 92%; and the East Midlands Regional take-up of 93%.  Additionally, 95% of childcare providers in Lincolnshire were offering the extended 30 hours entitlement;

·         Monthly Payments – The Forum was advised that Lincolnshire had successfully implemented a monthly payment system from September 2018, following consultation with the sector.  It was noted that feedback from the sector regarding the new payments system had been very positive; and that the system was helping to support providers to manage their budgets more effectively;

·         Sufficient and Sustainable Early Years and Childcare Provision – The Forum was advised that a sufficiency audit undertaken by the local authority in 2017 had demonstrated that Lincolnshire was in a strong position to meet the needs of families and that there was sufficient capacity within the market place to meet the needs.  As the audit had not taken into account parental choice, a parental survey had been undertaken; details of which were shown on page 45 of the report;

·         Quality Provision/Educational Outcomes – Details the Early Years  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Academies and Trust Update pdf icon PDF 230 KB

(To receive a report from John O'Connor, Children's Service Manager, Education Support, which provides the Schools' Forum with information on the latest number of academies, and pupils in academies)

Minutes:

The Head of Finance, Children's Services presented the Academies and Trust update report, which provided information on the latest number of academies, pupils in academies and academy trusts.

 

It was highlighted that since the effective date of the last report (1 January 2019), there had been two further academy conversions of primary schools, which meant that 35.9% (101) of primary schools were now academies, which represented 45.4% (26,115) of primary pupils.

 

Information relating to the projected six month status of all Lincolnshire State Schools was provided on pages 60 and 61 of the report presented.

 

The report also provided a list of the academy trust that currently had the greatest number of academies in Lincolnshire.

 

RESOLVED

 

            That the Academies and Trust update be noted.

11.

Lincolnshire Schools' Forum - Work Programme pdf icon PDF 91 KB

(This item provides the Schools' Forum with an opportunity to discuss potential items for future meetings for inclusion in the Work Programme)

Minutes:

The Forum gave consideration to its work programme.

 

RESOLVED

 

          That the work programme presented be noted.

12.

Future Meeting Dates

(For the Schools' Forum to agree the following meeting dates and times:-

 

Thurs 16 January 2020 at 1.00pm;

Thurs 23 April 2020; at 1.00pm

Thurs 18 June 2020 at 1.00pm; and

Thurs 8 October 2020 at 1.00pm.

 

All meetings will be held at County Offices)

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the following dates for future meeting of the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum be agreed:-

 

Thursday 16 January 2020 at 1.00pm;

Thursday 23 April 2020 at 1.00pm;

Thursday 18 June 2020 at 1.00pm; and

Thursday 8 October 2020 at 1.00pm.

 

 
 
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