Agenda and minutes

 RESOLVED

          That Terl Bryant be elected Chairman of the Forum for the ensuing municipal year.

RESOLVED

          That Michael Follows MBE and John Beswick be elected Vice-Chairmen of the Forum for the ensuing municipal year.

Apologies for absence were received from John Beaven (Headteacher, Scampton Pollyplatt Community Primary School), Graham Burks (Headteacher, Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School), Michael Follows MBE (Governor, Boston John Fielding Community Special School), Simon Hardy (Faith Groups), Jeremy Newnham (Headteacher, Caistor Yarborough), Chris Rolph (Headteacher, Monks' Dyke Tennyson College) and Dave Thompson (Pupil Referral Unit).

An apology for absence was also received from Councillor Mrs P A Bradwell (Executive Councillor for Adult Care & Health Services and Children's Services).

Confirmation was received that the reference to the delegated money to local authorities for Post 16 children with learning difficulties and disabilities, at minute number 3, would have a separate line entry in the budgets to ensure clear separation of the two items.

RESOLVED

          That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 24^th April 2013 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

In order to allow the Executive Director for Children's Services to attend another, prior engagement, the Chairman agreed to rearrange the agenda as follows:-

Item 8 – Higher Level Needs (SEND) Funding and General Matters

Item 9 – Pathfinder Outreach Social Communication including Autism Outreach

Item 7 – Ethnic Minority and Traveller Education Team (EMTET) Funding

Item 5 – Lincolnshire Schools' Forum Membership

Item 6 – Energy Update

Item 10 – School Funding Reform:  Findings from the Review of 2013/14 & Arrangements and Changes for 2014/15

Item 11 – Academies Update

Item 12 – Work Programme

(To receive a report from Gary Nixon, Head of Additional Needs)

Gary Nixon, Head of Additional Needs, introduced the report which provided information regarding SEN funding in Lincolnshire schools, funding for learners with high level needs, SEN funding allocation for schools outside Lincolnshire and general SEN funding matters and statistics.

During discussion, the following points were noted:-

·       Although the statutory assessment were to take place within 26 weeks, the Local Authority were to provide time for all those professionals involved liaise with parents and schools, where required.  If all information is provided before the 26 week deadline is reached then the Local Authority has the ability to issue a statement.  However, if all required information has not been received but a statutory assessment is signed off then the Local Authority could be open to challenge.

·       Concern was noted that 26 weeks of a 39 week school year is a long time.  It was thought that this may or may not change within the new guidance.

·       Confirmation was provided that it was illegal to directly attach money to a statement, although it was acknowledged that it did cost differing amounts for each child.  The statement itself, however, was to identify what the Special Educational Needs of the child were and not to give consideration to the costs involved.

·       It was explained that no changes to the funding regime had been implemented since April 2010 when the new SEN factor was introduced.  Within this budget, however, it was necessary to identify the notional SEN.  The Local Authority were required to complete information on how much they had allocated to fund depravation.  This formula would only be required in mixed areas.

AGREED

1.    That clarification of the message communicated to parents in regard to School Action Plus be sought and reported at the next Schools' Forum;

2.    That the report be noted.

RESOLVED

That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by Paragraphs 1 and 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended.

(To receive a report from Gary Nixon, Head of Additional Needs)

Gary Nixon, Head of Additional Needs, introduced the report and explained the salient points therein.

RESOLVED

          That the recommendation to accept Option 2, as set out within the report, be agreed.

(To receive a confidential report from John O'Connor, Head of Service – School Administration)

John O'Connor, Head of Service – School Administration, introduced the report, which sought the approval of members of maintained schools only.

RESOLVED

          That the recommendation to accept Option 3, as set out in the report, be approved.

Members of the public and press were readmitted to the meeting at this point.

(To receive a report from Doug Robinson, Sustainability Team Leader, which provides the Schools' Forum with an Energy Update)

Doug Robinson, Sustainability Team Leader, introduced the report which provided an update on the recent activity and implementation of the Schools Collaboration on Resource Efficiency (SCoRE) programme.

During discussion, the following points were noted:-

·       Further work was required to ensure that current maintenance programmes are linked with this programme. 

·       As this was a relatively new programme, it was acknowledged that issues were being met as the programme progressed but that these were being addressed.  For example, it appeared that the SALIX scheme was available to maintained schools at the present time.

·       This was currently being looked into by officer but the challenge remained that this programme was held within the DSU budget for carbon tax so was currently best to use that.  The possibility of making loans available to academies for this programme was being explored and contact had been made with the EFA.

RESOLVED

          That the report be noted.

 (To receive a report from Andrea Brown, Democratic Services Officer)

Andrea Brown, Democratic Services Officer, introduced the report and explained that an election process would be undertaken prior to the next meeting to ensure that all vacancies were filled. Work would be required to ensure that a balance was reached in each of the groups whilst undertaking the election.

During discussion the following point was noted:-

·       Although substitute forms had previously been sent to members of the Forum, very few had been returned.  To ensure full representation, it was agreed that these be sent again.

RESOLVED

1.    That the report be noted;

2.    That Substitute Forms be circulated with a deadline for return;

3.    That Councillor Mrs Bradwell be removed from the Membership of the Forum.

(To receive a report from Tony Warnock, Head of Finance for Children's and Special Service)

Tony Warnock presented the report which provided the Schools Forum with recent Government announcements, outlined the principles the Local Authority was to adopt when responding to the reforms and the proposed next steps for this particular piece of work.  The views of the forum were also sought on the provisional ideas for dealing with the DfE's latest proposals.

During discussion the following points were noted:-

·       If the factor was applied, it was confirmed that 73 primary schools would qualify but only eight secondary schools, although the consideration of the proximity grammar schools was unclear.  The DfE had been contacted to request detailed information on how this guidance had been developed.

·       It was requested that consideration be given to the sparsity factor and any transport issues.

·       Members took a view on the key changes announced by the Minister, as follows:-

o   Introduction of a sparsity factor as set out in Appendix 2- agreed

o   Greater flexibility to target the right level of lump sums available – agreed

o   Provision of funding to support good and outstanding maintained schools and academies through short periods of falling rolls – agreed

o   The amendment of the prior attainment factor – agreed

o   The application of a 10% threshold by LA's should schools choose to operate a mobility factor – agreed

o   The option set out in Appendix 1 in relation to Looked After Children – members suggested that this issue should be explored further prior to making a decision

o   Notional SEN as set out in Appendix 1 – agreed

RESOLVED

1. That the report be noted;

2. That the comments noted above be considered before implementing any changes to school funding which may need to be made in 2014/15; and

3. That a nominations for the working group arranged for 24 September 2013 be sent to members of the Schools Forum after the meeting.

Councillor D Brailsford and Ms J Wheeldon left the meeting at this point and did not return.

(To receive an update from Meredith Teasdale, Assistant Director of Children's Services)

Tony Warnock introduced the report which provided the forum with the position of recent academy conversions as at 1^st June 2013, based on the latest available pupil figures.

RESOLVED

          That the report be noted.

No changes were made to the work programme presented.  One addition was made for consideration at the meeting scheduled for October 2013:-

1.Pathfinder Outreach Update Report (Gary Nixon)

RESOLVED

          That the work programme and all changes therein be noted.

·    Wednesday 9 October 2013 at 2.00pm

·    Wednesday 15 January 2014 at 2.00pm

·    Wednesday 23 April 2014 at 2.00pm

·    Wednesday 25 June 2014 at 2.00pm

The dates of future meetings of the Schools Forum were confirmed as follows:-

·    Wednesday 9^th October 2013 at 2.00pm

·    Wednesday 15^th January 2014 at 2.00pm

·    Wednesday 23^rd April 2014 at 2.00pm

·    Wednesday 25^th June 2014 at 2.00pm (AGM)

RESOLVED

          That future dates be noted.

RESOLVED

          That the items on the Information Pack be noted.