Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Katrina Cope  Senior Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

24.

Apologies for Absence/Replacement Members

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Ian Randall (Headteacher, Reepham C E Primary School), Martin Shelton (Linkage Community Trust) and Allison Sunley (Governor, Great Steeping Primary School).

25.

Declarations of Members' Interest

Minutes:

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

26.

Minutes of the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum meeting held on 10 October 2019 pdf icon PDF 276 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum meeting held on 10 October 2019 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to Minute 13 being amended to read Mark Woods (Stamford and Welland Academy).

27.

Chairman's Announcements

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed Penny Davies (Governor, Saxilby C E Primary School) to her first meeting of the Forum.

 

The Forum was advised that a further election would be arranged in due course to fill the current vacancies.

 

The Chairman reported that a request had been made for agenda item 8 to be moved further down the agenda to allow officers enough time to be present at the meeting.     

28.

National Funding Formula for Schools (2020/21) pdf icon PDF 175 KB

(To receive a report from Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance, Children's Services, which invites theSchools' Forum to comment on the Local Authority's funding formula proposals for 2020/21 following the government's funding announcements on the mainstream schools national funding formula proposals)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Forum gave consideration to a report from Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance, Children's Services, which invited comments on the Local Authority's funding formula proposals for 2020/21 following the government's funding announcements on mainstream schools national funding formula proposals.

 

The Forum was reminded that the introduction of the national funding formula had created consistency in funding across all schools nationally ensuring a fairer settlement for each school.  Table 1, on Page 18 outlined Lincolnshire's Schools Block Unit of Funding for 2020/21 through the implementation of the national funding formula compared to other Local Authorities.  It was highlighted that Lincolnshire's primary unit value had increased by £373 from 2018/19 and Lincolnshire's secondary unit by £346.  It was noted however that Lincolnshire's funding rates were below the England average.

 

It was reported that on 30 August 2019, the Prime Minister had announced an investment of over £14bn in primary and secondary education between 2020/21 and 2022/23.  The announcement required Local Authorities to engage in open and transparent consultation on their 2020/21 funding formula.  It was noted that the schools consultation covered the period 25 November 2019 to 13 December 2019, a copy of the consultation document and details of the responses received were shown in Appendix A. The Forum gave consideration to the response document and officers responded to questions raised.

 

It was highlighted that the government's announcement of additional funding into schools would have a positive impact on Lincolnshire schools.  Details of the funding formula changes and monetary values attached to each formula factor (compared to 2019/20 funding levels) were shown within Appendix A to the report.

 

The Forum noted the key points for 2020/21 funding arrangements, which were shown on pages 18/19 of the report.  It was highlighted that all pupil-led formula factors would increase by 4% in monetary value, the minimum per pupil funding levels would be set at £3,750 for primary schools (currently £3,500) and £5,000 for secondary schools (currently £4,800), and no ceiling gap would be applied.   It was highlighted that it was the government's intention to move all schools onto the national funding formula, therefore losing schools currently receiving protection funding were likely to face reductions in per pupil funding at some point in the future. It was highlighted further that this impacted 5 primary schools and 5 secondary schools in Lincolnshire. 

 

It was reported that following the meeting, the Forum's comments would be shared with the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 17 January 2020 during their consideration of the Schools National Funding Formula, prior to Executive Councillor approval on 21 January 2020.   It was noted that the Local Authority had to calculate and publish individual schools budgets by the 29 February 2020.

 

Details of the future direction of travel were shown on pages 21 and 22 of the report.

 

During discussion, the following points were raised:-

 

·         The positive effect for the primary school sector;

·         Schools in receipt of protection funding.  Confirmation was given that the ten schools affected were a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

29.

School Funding Arrangements 2020/21

(To receive a report from Elizabeth Bowes, Strategic Finance Manager, Schools Finance Team, which provides the Schools' Forum with an update on the school funding arrangements for 2020/21 and seeks approval for the Local Authority's proposals relating to a number of centrally held budgets)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report from Elizabeth Bowes, Strategic Finance Manager, Schools Finance Team, which provided the Schools' Forum with an update on the school funding arrangements for 2020/21 and sought approval for the Local Authority's proposals relating to a number of centrally held budgets.

 

Page 1 of the report provided some background information relating to school funding announcements.

 

The Forum was advised that the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) remained a ring-fenced grant which could only be used in accordance with the School's and Early Years Finance (England) Regulations.  It was noted that the DSG continued to comprise of four blocks – Schools block, Central School block (CSSB), High Needs block and Early Years block and that each of the blocks continued to be determined by a separate national funding formula.  Further information relating to the aforementioned four blocks was contained on pages 3 to 5 of the report.

 

Table 1 on page 2 of the report provided details of Lincolnshire's 2020/21 DSG allocations.  It was noted that Lincolnshire's overall funding levels across the four blocks had increased in 2020/21, particularly in the Schools block due to the government removing the gains ceiling cap; the increase in pupil-led formula factor values by 4% and the implementation of the minimum per pupil formula factor.  The High Needs block had also seen an increase, due to the funding floor being set at +8.0% compared to a Local Authorities existing baseline funding.

 

Page 5 and 6 of the report referenced Pupil Premium, Universal Infant Free School Meals, Teachers Pay Grant and Teachers Pension Grant.  The Forum was advised that the funding rates for 2020/21 had not yet been confirmed.  The report confirmed that the Teachers' Pension Grant and the Teachers Pay Grant would continue to be funded through a separate grant to the national funding formula over the next three years.

 

Reference was also made to the DSG School budgets for 2020/21 (details of which were shown on pages 6 and 7 of the report presented); the DSG Central Budgets 2020/21; and the impact upon Local Authorities entering into a DSG deficit.  It was highlighted that although Lincolnshire was not in a financial deficit position, costs were continuing to rise in the area of high needs at a significant rate, as a result of the growth and complexity of pupils requiring additional support.  It was highlighted further the Local Authority had conducted its annual review of the DSG central budgets; and details of the significant planned changes were shown on page 8 of the report.

 

Page 8 of the report also provided information relating to the Department for Education regulations relating to the setting of central budgets within the DSG.  In accordance with the regulations, members of the Forum were asked to consider Tables 2 to 4 of the report which set out budgets requiring Schools' Forum approval (pages 9 to 11 of the report).

 

During consideration of the aforementioned tables, officers highlighted the following:

 

·         Table 2 – Schools Block Funding for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

30.

Early Years National Funding Formula pdf icon PDF 495 KB

(To receive a report from Michelle Andrews, Head of Early Years, which provides the Schools' Forum with a summary on the early year's national funding formula for 2020/21; and to seek agreement relating to the allocation and distribution of the centrally retained budgets)

Minutes:

The Forum gave consideration to a report from Michelle Andrews, Head of Early Years, which provided the Schools' Forum with a summary on the early year's national funding formula for 2020/21; and sought agreement relating to the allocation and distribution of the centrally retained budgets.

 

In guiding the Forum through the report reference was made to the background behind the government's early years national funding formula; the national funding to Local Authorities for early years core funding.  It was highlighted that Lincolnshire would be funded at the minimum funding rate in 2020/21 of £4.38 per pupil per hour, which was a per pupil increase of £0.08 per hour from 2019/20 funding levels.  It was highlighted further that Lincolnshire's hourly funding rate of £4.38 per pupil would provide indicative funding of £35.614m for 3 and 4 year old entitlement.  It was noted that Lincolnshire was one of 46 Local Authorities funded on the minimum funding rate.

 

The Forum noted that the local universal base hourly rate per pupil for 3 & 4 year old entitlement had been determined at £3.98 for 2020/21, an increase of £0.11 per hour per pupil from the 2019/20 rate.  It was highlighted that this had been funded by the additional £0.08 increase announced by the government; a release of funding from the reduction in deprivation allocations determined through the IDACI criteria; a small reduction in funding previously earmarked for the fluctuation contingency fund to respond to demand-led activity, and a reduction in centrally-held funding.  Details relating to the theoretical model that determined the local universal rate were shown on page 46 of the report.

 

It was reported that the Local Authority for 2020/21 would continue to use the same deprivation factor and deprivation monetary values that were currently in place for 2019/20.  It was highlighted that the provider survey that had been undertaken had identified that 81% of respondents had supported the continued use of the government's Income Deprivation affecting Children Index (IDACI) measure.  The Forum noted that the current approach would allocate £0.982m through the deprivation funding formula for 2020/21.  Table 1 on page 48 of the report provided details of the deprivation scores and associated funding. 

 

It was noted that the Local Authority was planning to propose a change to the approach used to distribute deprivation supplements, to support the effective use of this funding in the future.  It was noted further that the Local Authority planned to engage with the sector during 2020/21 with a view to implementing changes from 2021/22.

 

Reference was also made to:

 

·  The SEN Inclusion Fund – The Forum was advised that the inclusion funding model provided a top up payment based upon a percentage increase of the universal base rate for every hour a child attended the setting for their early years entitlement (up to a maximum of 30 hours based on a child's eligibility).  It was noted that the planned funding allocation using current the protocol was being increased by £0.050m for financial year 2020/21 to £0.650m per  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

31.

Schools Admissions Appeal Charges for Maintained Schools pdf icon PDF 153 KB

(To receive a report from Emily Nicholls, Commissioning Officer, which asks the Schools' Forum to consider the introduction of Schools Admissions Appeal Charges for Maintained Schools)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report from Emily Nicholls, Commissioning Officer, which asked maintained schools representatives on the Schools' Forum to agree School Admissions Appeals Services to be permitted as a chargeable service. 

 

The Forum was advised that when a child or young person was refused a place at a school, there was a right of appeal against the decision to refuse a place; and that the right of appeal was the same whether the application was made for when a child started school, or if the application was mid-year in any year group.

 

The Forum was advised that currently academies could purchase this service from the Council (Admissions Team and Legal Services) and that currently there was sufficient capacity to meet demand as not all academies used this service.  The Forum was advised further that currently maintained schools did not pay for this service, which was historic and the Academy schools were invoiced retrospectively.

 

It was highlighted that in 2018, DfE Schools Revenue Funding operational guidance had been updated to state that maintained schools and academies should be treated equally when it came to the expenditure of DSG budgets.  (Page 75 of the report provided details of the schools operational guidance).  It was highlighted further that the payment of admissions appeals was identified as an anomaly.

 

It was reported that a consultation had taken place asking schools their opinions on charging all schools for this service, and asking them to suggest any alternative arrangements.  Appendix A to the report provided further details of the responses received for the Forum to consider.  The Forum was advised that to date 17 responses had been received.  Details of the concerns raised were shown on page 76 (points 1 to 7).

 

During discussion, the Forum raised the following comments:-

 

·         That the implementation of a charge would create cost pressures for schools particularly rural schools, and as a result other services might have to be cut to finance this proposed charge.  Secondary maintained schools also agreed that support could not be given for the proposal due to its financial impact;

·         Concern was expressed to the timing of the consultation, as it was a busy time for schools;

·         What other authorities were doing to deal with the situation.  Officers were advised that each area had similar issues to Lincolnshire, whether to charge, or not.  Officers advised that one smaller authority had decided not to charge;

·         Some members enquired what the cost would be to the Local Authority for doing it for free.  Officers advised that figures would be difficult to estimate; as the Admissions section only had information about the appeals they had been involved with; and not all Academies used the Local Authority for their appeals.  Officers also confirmed that there would be a risk to the Local Authority to take on the whole liability as there was no budget identified to meet such a cost;

·         The inequality of funding streams across the system, as previous funding had now ended, although protection might still  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

32.

Progress Report on the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy pdf icon PDF 186 KB

(To receive a report from Eileen McMorrow, Senior Project Officer Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), which provides the Schools' Forum with an update on the implementation of the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report from Eileen McMorrow, Senior Project Officer Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, which provided the Schools' Forum with an update on the implementation of the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy.

 

It was noted that significant progress had been made across the capital investment programme with eight out of the fourteen schools being actively engaged in feasibility and design of their planned development.  It was noted further that six schools would be 'all needs' operational by the autumn term 2021, with at least two more schools coming on line in 2022.  Details relating to the delivery of the capital programme were shown on pages 58 to 62 of the report.

 

It was reported that work was on going with producing Lincolnshire's Social Emotional and Mental Health Needs strategic vision, and satellite provision, details of which would be shared with the Forum in due course.  Work was also on going in the setting up of community led panels for each locality to meet the needs of children and young people requiring a special school place at the right time as close to home as possible.

 

The Forum noted the health work stream had made significant progress in developing the health offer including the creation of a Memorandum of Understanding between schools and health providers setting out clear expectations around provision.

 

It was reported that for all schools to be 'all needs' operational, the identified support systems of workforce development, health offer and SEND design would be established in advance of the first all needs school opening.  Reassurance was given that supporting systems had been developed collaboratively with sector experts from the Local Authority, mainstream and special schools and Lincolnshire Parent Carer Forum to ensure that they fully met the needs of all Lincolnshire children with SEND and their families.

 

Details of the funding allocations were shown on pages 64 and 65 of the report.  Appendix A to the report provided details of the programme and Appendix B provided design drawings for the Boston John Fielding School.

 

The Forum noted that despite the delay to the final delivery on St Christopher's School as a result of the unsuccessful special free school bid, the whole strategic vision would still be implemented within five years, as identified in the original strategy.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the progress report on the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Strategy be noted.

33.

Academies and Trust Update pdf icon PDF 345 KB

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

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 September 2019), two primary schools had converted to academy or sponsored academy status, which meant that 37.7% (106) primary schools were now academies and 48.4%(27,564) of FTE primary pupils were educated in academies.  It was reported that a further three primary schools were intending to be academies by 1 June 2020.

 

Information relating to the projected six month status of all Lincolnshire State Schools was provided on pages 98 and 99 of the report presented.

 

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

 

RESOLVED

 

            That the Academies and Trust update be noted.

34.

Lincolnshire Schools' Forum - Work Programme pdf icon PDF 122 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 the work programme presented.

 

 

RESOLVED

 

            That the work programme presented be noted.

 

 
 
dot

Original Text: