Decision details
Schools Funding Update 2021/22 - Mainstream Schools
Decision Maker: Executive Councillor: Adult Care, Health and Children's Services
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: No
Decision:
That the Executive Councillor:-
(1) approves the application of the National Funding Formula (NFF) in the development of the County Council's mainstream schools funding formula for 2021/22;
(2) approves the inclusion of the following in the County Council's mainstream schools funding formula for 2021/22:-
· Key formula factors will increase by 3% in monetary value.
· A positive Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) of +0.5% per pupil protection. The MFG range is between +0.5% and +2.0% per pupil in 2021/22.
· No gains ceiling cap.
· The minimum per pupil funding levels will be set at £4,180 for primary schools and £5,415 for secondary schools.
· Funding from the teachers' pay grant and teachers' pension employer contribution grant (including supplementary funding) will be incorporated into the NFF for 2021/22 (technical adjustment).
· Small and remote schools will see an increase in the sparsity factor value.
· To use the 2021/22 National Funding Formula as the basis for determining the notional Special Educational Needs (SEN) amount per school when identifying whether a school is entitled to targeted funding.
· The targeted funding criteria will allocate the first £6,000 where a school has been identified as having insufficient notional SEN within its delegated budget due to the number of pupils with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.
· To support the principle of increasing the top up rate for EHC plans – the rate of increase will be subject to affordability of the High Needs block following the determination of all SEN related budgets.
· To apply transitional protection funding for 2021/22 where targeted funding and top up rate changes result in the school funding falling below +0.5% per pupil increase (in accordance with the final MFG value).
Reasons for the decision:
As detailed in the report and addendum.
Alternative options considered:
As detailed in the report and addendum.
Publication date: 20/01/2021
Date of decision: 20/01/2021
Accompanying Documents: