Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual - Online Meeting via Microsoft Teams. View directions

Contact: Katrina Cope  Senior Democratic Services Officer

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence/Replacement Members

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Katie Gravil (Head Teacher, Kirkby la Thorpe Church of England Primary Academy), Vicki Locke (Deputy Principal, Boston College), Julia Merrivale (Manager, Trinity Day Nursery), Simon Morley (Head Teacher, Boston West Academy and Amy Stancer (Head Teacher, St Giles Nursery School, Lincoln).

2.

Declarations of Members' Interest

Minutes:

Steve Baragwanath (Executive Principal, University Academy Holbeach) declared an interest in agenda item 11 – Autism and Learning Difficulties Services, as Gosberton House Academy was part of the University of Lincoln Academy Trust and had been heavily involved in the delivery of the work and was mentioned in the report presented.

 

 

 

 

 

3.

Minutes of the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum meeting held on 7 October 2021 pdf icon PDF 196 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the Lincolnshire Schools’ Forum meeting held on 7 October 2021 be agreed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

4.

Chairman's Announcements

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed the following newly elected members to the Forum: Alan Howe, Anthony Stevens, Callum Clay, Mrs Kyna Adkins and Vicki Locke.

 

On behalf the Forum, the Chairman extended his thanks to the following outgoing members of the Forum: Ian Randall, Sarah Wilson and Martin Shelton.

 

The Forum noted that a further election would be held later in the year.

 

5.

Nomination of a Lincolnshire Schools Forum Representative to the Lincolnshire Learning Partnership Board

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That Lea Mason be nominated as the Schools’ Forum representative to the Lincolnshire Learning Partnership Board.

6.

School Funding Arrangements 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 333 KB

(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 2022/23)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report from Elizabeth Bowes, Strategic Finance Manager, Schools Finance Team, on the school funding arrangements for 2022/23 and agreement was sought by the Forum to the Local Authority’s (LA) proposals to a number of centrally held budgets.

 

A supplementary report had been circulated to the members of the Forum prior to the meeting, which provided a mainstream schools update paper on replicating the National Funding Formula for 2022/23 and the measures to address the affordability gap.

 

The Forum was advised of the background to the national funding formula; the governments funding intentions for 2022/23, announced on 19 July 2021 and then subsequently updated on 16 December 2021.  It was noted that the Department for Education’s (DfE’s) 16 December 2021 update had minimal changes to the version published in July.  It was highlighted however, that as part of the spending review, the government had announced additional funding to the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) to support with unforeseen costs, such as the Health and Social Care Levy.  The Forum was advised that the DSG would continue to comprise of four blocks, details of Lincolnshire’s 2022/23 DSG allocations announced by the DfE were shown in table 1 on page 21 of the report pack.  It was highlighted that Lincolnshire’s overall funding levels across the four blocks had increased in 2022/23.

 

It was reported that the key national funding formula School’s block funding updates included: an increase in pupil-led formula factor values by 3%; and that the High Needs block had seen an increase due to the funding floor being set at 8% per head compared to the previous year’s funding levels.

 

The Forum noted that following consultation the methodology for paying rates bills would be changing for all schools and academies.  From 2022/23, bills would now be paid by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) direct to the billing authorities on behalf of all maintained schools and academies.  It was noted further that guidance was still awaited as to how schools and academies should treat this cost in their financial accounts.

 

It was highlighted that within the High Needs block, the basic structure of the formula was not changing, and that LAs would be protected under the formula by seeing a minimum increase of 8% per head in 2022/23 compared to the 2021/22 funding baseline level.  Details of the allocation for 2022/23 were shown on page 23 of the report.  Reference was also made to the growing trend nationally of more young people requiring specialist provision, and that Lincolnshire continued to face significant challenges in establishing a sustainable block going forward.  The Forum noted that transformational work was underway, details of which shown on the top of page 24 of the report.

 

It was reported that within the Early Years block, Lincolnshire continued to be funded on the ‘minimum funding rate’ which had increased in 2022/23 to £4.61 per hour for early years entitlement.

 

The Pupil Premium was to continue in the 2022/23 financial year and that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

Early Years National Funding Formula pdf icon PDF 265 KB

(To receive a report from Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance – Children’s Services, which provides the Schools’ Forum with a summary of the Early Years National Funding Formula for 2022/23; provides details of the funding distribution for early years providers in Lincolnshire in 2022/23; and seeks agreement for the Local Authority’s proposals relating to the allocation and distribution of the centrally retained budgets)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance – Children’s Services, to present the item to the Forum, which provided a summary of the Early Years National Funding Formula (EYNFF) for 2022/23 and provided details of the funding distribution for early providers.

 

An amended report had been circulated to members of the Forum prior to the meeting, which corrected details relating to two-year-old funding arrangements.

 

In guiding the Forum through the report, reference was made to the background behind the early years funding formula; and national funding to LAs for early years core funding.

 

The Forum was advised that Lincolnshire’s overall hourly funding rate was funded at a rate of the minimum funding floor of £4.61.  Details of the funding streams were shown on page 40 of the report.  It was highlighted that for budget purposes the budget had been set based on the January 2020 pupil census information, prior to the pandemic.  It was highlighted that the budget being worked to was £36.889m for three and four-year-old entitlement.

 

It was reported that as part of the 2021 Spending review, the Government had confirmed the continuation of maintained nursery school supplementary funding throughout the Spending review period, giving the sector a level of certainty for 2022/2023.

 

The Forum was advised that through the increase in government funding for 2022/23, Lincolnshire’s hourly rate for 3 and 4-year-old early years entitlement would increase by £0.16 to £4.20.

 

The Forum was advised of the background and financial requirements of Deprivation supplement, table 1 provided details of the deprivation scores and associated funding; SEN Inclusion Fund; the Fluctuation Contingency Fund; Local Authority Centrally Retained Funding, details of which were contained on pages 46 -48 of the report; Central Spend – Summary; Disability Access Funding; Early Years Pupil Premium; and Two-Year-Old Funding.  It was highlighted that the Two-Year old hourly rate for those most deprived would be increasing by £0.20 to £5.23 in 2022/23, which builds in the government’s increase in funding.

 

In conclusion, the Forum was advised that the Local Authority continued to apply the EYNFF through its hourly rates for three and four-year-olds and for disadvantaged two-year-olds and that it was proposed to increase the hourly rates, as detailed in the report.

 

The Forum was also asked to approve the LA’s proposal for centrally retained funding as detailed in the report.

 

The Chairman on behalf of the Forum extended his thanks to Mark Popplewell for the presentation.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.      That the report be noted.

 

2.      That the LA’s proposals for centrally retained funding as detailed in the report be agreed.

8.

Schools Sector Led Update pdf icon PDF 252 KB

(To receive a report from Sue Williams, Head of Education Strategy, which provides the Schools’ Forum with an update on changes in the sector led system over the last year and information about the current position with schools)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report from Sue Williams, Head of Education Strategy, which provided the Forum with an update on changes in the sector led system over the last year, and information about the current position with schools.

 

Appendix A to the report provided details of the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile Lincolnshire Outcomes for 2019; Appendix B provided the Key Stage 4 Revised Statistical Release for 20192019; and Appendix C provided the key number report for 2019 for the Forum to consider.

 

In guiding the Forum through the report, reference was made to the Ofsted school inspection outcomes; the refreshed Strategy for School Improvement, which provided for all maintained schools to receive at least one termly visit from their Education Locality Lead, who supported schools to engage and benefit from the Government’s range of programmes and funding to support recovery in schools; the work of the Education Team; the Lincolnshire Learning Partnership, it was noted that Catherine Stratton, Headteacher of Saxilby Church of England Primary School had been appointed as the new a new chair for the Lincolnshire Learning Partnership Board (LLPB); Funding Commitments of the LLPB (table at the bottom of page 57 of the report provided details of funds agreed by the board for specific projects); Teaching School Commissioned Support, particular reference was made to the ‘Recover Lincolnshire’ which focussed on curriculum recovery, particularly in English and mathematics, with specialised programmes for small schools and a project commissioned to support schools in the City of Lincoln, which was around four main aims; the L.E.A.D.; the Teaching School Hub, Lincolnshire, the Forum was advised that one of the teaching schools had been successful in their application to the Department for Education (DfE) as a Teaching School Hub.  It was noted that Lincolnshire was a key strategic partner in the new DfE initiative.  It was noted further that the Local Authority had an officer on the strategic group for the Teaching School Hub to ensure joined up working across the authority.

 

The Forum was made aware of the Government’s proposal to remove the Local Authority School Improvement and Brokering Grant; a consultation period followed the announcement to which the County Council made a very robust challenge.  It was highlighted that on the 11 January 2022, despite challenge from across the country the decision had been made to withdraw the funding with the proposal that maintained schools should fund the gap.  It was highlighted that the County Council was meeting the cost of any grant funding changes at this time and would be considering the longer implications of the grant’s withdrawal.  

 

The Chairman on behalf of the Forum extended his thanks to Sue Williams for the presentation.

 

RESOLVED

 

              That the report be noted.

9.

Behaviour Outreach Support Service (BOSS) pdf icon PDF 305 KB

(To receive a report from Sara Gregory, Commissioning Manager – Children’s Strategic Commissioning, which provides the Schools’ Forum with an overview of the findings from the review of the Behaviour Outreach Support Service and seeks support on the recommendations to recommission a Behaviour Outreach Support Service and continue its finding from the High Needs block of the Designated Schools Grant)

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Sara Gregory, Commissioning Manager – Children’s Strategic Commissioning to present the item, which provided an overview of the findings from the review of the Behaviour Outreach Support Service (BOSS); and sought Forum support to recommission a Behaviour Outreach Support Service and to continue its funding from the High Needs block of the DSG.

 

The Forum noted that the BOSS was currently delivered by Family Action via a contract following a tender process.  It was highlighted that the current contract was due to expire on 31 August 2022.

 

It was noted that a recommendation was being made to the Council’s Executive on 8 February 2022 to re-commission BOSS via an open competitive tender, to continue to support the Lincolnshire Strategy and the Lincolnshire Ladder of Behavioural Intervention, to ensure that children and young people were supported to remain in their mainstream education settings and achieve the best possible outcomes,  The Forum was advised that the recommissioning of BOSS would be from 1 September 2022 for three years initially, with an option to extend for a further two years.

 

Details of the findings of the review were contained within the report presented.

 

During consideration of the item, the Forum raised some of the following comments:

 

·       Lead times for schools to access.  The Forum was advised that there was no proposal to change BOSS, and that it would continue to be part of the Lincolnshire Ladder; and therefore there was an expectation that BOSS would work to current times once a referral had been received.  Reassurance was given that it was not anticipated that the resource would be reduced under the future intended model.  It was also noted that the service specification would include a minimum requirement for staff resources;

·       Evaluation process.  Confirmation was given that the service would be monitored as part of the contract management process to ensure that it was meeting with demand and that factor would be built into any future contract management;

·       Praise was extended to the highly valued BOSS; and that a greater alignment of SEN support was welcomed;

·       Access to BOSS by special schools.  There was recognition that BOSS was commissioned for mainstream schools and settings.  But more was being done through the SEND workforce development service offer and the SEND offer to align them better with particular focus on SEND as to what training offer could be made available to special schools.  Officers agreed to explore the matter further; and

·       Some concern was expressed to whether this was the right time to be changing the service; and whether there was the possibility of a continuity agreement for an extension to the existing contract.  The Forum was advised that the contract could not be extended any further, as this was written in the terms and conditions; and to consider an extension would be an exception to the procurement regulations.  The Forum was reassured that it was thought there would be sufficient market interest in the service, it recognised that there was some risk,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Healthy Minds Lincolnshire Service pdf icon PDF 270 KB

(To receive a report from Sara Gregory, Commissioning Manager – Children’s Strategic Commissioning, which provides the Schools’ Forum with an update on the Healthy Minds Lincolnshire Service and seeks support on the future funding recommendations for Healthy Minds Lincolnshire from the High Needs block of the Designated Schools Grant)

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report from Sara Gregory, Commissioning Manager – Children’s Strategic Commissioning, which provided an update on the Healthy Minds Lincolnshire Service and sought support from the Forum on the future funding recommendations for Healthy Minds Lincolnshire from the High Needs block of the DSG.

 

The Forum noted that Healthy Minds Lincolnshire was an emotional wellbeing service for Lincolnshire children and young people aged 0 to 19 (25 SEND and/or Care Leaver) experiencing low to moderate emotional wellbeing concerns. 

 

The service had been commissioned by the Council since 1 October 2017 and was provided by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) through a Partnership Agreement made under Section 75 of the NHS Act 2006.  It was highlighted that the current agreement was due to end on 31 August 2022.  The current annual value of the service was £2m per annum, 50% of which was funded through the Public Health Grant.  The Schools’ Forum had agreed at its meeting on 1 January 2017 that the remaining 50% of funding would be funded from the High Needs Block of the DSG, to increase staffing capacity and to meet a gap in schools being able to access low to moderate emotional wellbeing/mental health support for pupils who did not meet the criteria for more specialist intervention.

 

The report referred to the service delivery of Healthy Minds Lincolnshire; the proposal for the future delivery of the service; and information relating to the review of the service.

 

The Forum was advised of the planned monetary diversion and saving to the DSG starting from September 2022 of the £1m annual investment.

 

It was noted that a wider review of emotional wellbeing and mental health services for children and young people in Lincolnshire was commencing, which was likely to result in some changes to existing services.  It was noted further that engagement with schools and colleges was key to the review; and that work was also being undertaken with LPFT and the Clinical Commissioning Group to ensure that any further funding needed was met from wider expected health investment.  It was highlighted that as a system it was important to maximise resources, minimise duplication and to ensure that the expertise of staff working with children and young people, in mental health services were maintained throughout.

 

During consideration of the report, one member acknowledged the massive impact of being part of the pilot around mental health support had been to some children, who would not have had access to support quite as easily as they had, and that this had made a massive difference in some schools.  Appreciation was also extended for all the support that the healthy minds service provided, and to the inclusion of Spalding in a future Wave.

 

The Chairman on behalf of the Forum extended thanks to Sara Gregory for the presentation.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report be noted and that support be given to on the future funding recommendations for Healthy Minds Lincolnshire, from the High Needs Bock of the Designated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Autism and Learning Difficulties Service pdf icon PDF 315 KB

(To receive a report from Sara Gregory, Commissioning Manager – Children’s Strategic Commissioning, which provides an overview of the findings from the review of the Autism and Learning Difficulties Services and seeks support on the recommendation to recommission an Autism and Learning Difficulties Service funded from the High Needs block of the Designated Schools Grant)

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Sara Gregory, Commissioning Manager – Children’s Strategic Commissioning to present the item, which provided an overview of the review of the Autism and Learning Difficulties Services (ALD) and sought support from the Forum on the recommendation to re-commission an Autism and Learning Difficulties Service funded from the High Needs block of the DSG.

 

It was noted that the service had been in place since 2015, following an expression of interest process to Lincolnshire special schools and that the lead provider for the current agreement, on behalf of the Working Team was Gosberton House Academy.  It was noted further that the current agreement was due to end on 31 August 2022.

 

The Forum noted that the service had been considered as part of a wider review of other emotional wellbeing and behaviour outreach support services in Lincolnshire and as part of the SEND Transformation Project and the Building Communities of Specialist Provision Together in Lincolnshire in relation to SEND workforce development.

 

It was reported that a recommendation was being made to the Council’s Executive in February to re-commission a ALD service. 

 

Reference was also made to service performance, needs summary; evidence summary; stakeholder engagement; training and workshops offer; outreach support; and funding recommendations for a future ALD service.  It was noted that there was no efficiencies that could be made against the current model due to the majority of the costs being attributed to the ALD Outreach Workers and costs associated with teachers’ pay and conditions.  It was anticipated that there would be no reduction to the current ALD Outreach Worker staffing resource.

 

The Forum was asked to support the recommendation to the Council’s Executive to continue to fund the service for a further three years initially, with an option to extend for a further two years.  It was highlighted that the process would be done by an expression of interest to the Lincolnshire special schools and academies within the Lincolnshire SEND Alliance.

 

During consideration of the item, thanks were extended for the great service provided; and a query was raised regarding sensory occupational therapists, as these appeared not to be recognised within Lincolnshire and were not commissioned in anyway.  Officers agreed to investigate the matter further.

 

The Chairman extended thanks on behalf of the Forum to Sara Gregory for the presentation.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the contents of the report be noted, and that support be given to the recommendation to the Council’s Executive to continue to fund an Autism and Learning Difficulties from the High Needs block of the Designated Schools Grant.

12.

Academies and Trust Update pdf icon PDF 212 KB

(To receive a report from Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance – Children’s Services, which provides the Schools’ Forum with an update on the latest number of academies and pupils in academies, and academy trusts)

Minutes:

The Forum received an update from Mark Popplewell, Head of Finance – Children’s Services, on the latest number of academies and pupils in academies, and academy trusts.

 

It was noted that since effective date of the last report (1 September 2022), no further schools had become academies.  And that using the latest pupil figures, 78,226 (72.5%) FTE pupils were educated in academy schools or 51.8% of schools.

 

The report highlighted that there were currently no schools going through the process to become convertor or sponsored academies, therefore by 1 July 2022, if the situation continued, the position would remain the same.

 

Page 129 of the report provided details of academy trusts and active muti-academy trust operating in Lincolnshire.

 

RESOLVED

 

              That the Academies and Trust update report be noted.

13.

Lincolnshire Schools' Forum - Work Programme pdf icon PDF 125 KB

(This item provides the Schools’ Forum with an opportunity to discuss potential items for future meetings)

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

           That the work programme presented be received.

 

 
 
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