Agenda item

(To receive a report from Elizabeth Bowes, Strategic Finance Manager, Schools Finance Team, which provides the Schools' Forum with a summary of the updates from the Department for Education (DfE) relating to the national funding formula for schools, central services, high needs and early years for 2021/22)

The Forum gave consideration to a report from Elizabeth Bowes, Strategic Finance Manager, Schools Finance Team, which provided a summary of the updates from the Department of Education (DfE) relating to the national funding formula (NFF) for schools, central school services, high needs and early years for 2021/22. Page 17 of the report provided the Forum with background information relating as to why the national funding formula was introduced.

The Forum was advised 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.  Through this investment and the move towards the 'hard' formula in 2020/21, the DfE had stated that the minimum per pupil levels of funding applied to all schools would become a mandatory factor in 2020/21 and that there would be no ceiling cap, so that all schools would attract at least their full allocations under the formula.

It was reported that on 20 July 2020, the government had announced its funding intentions for 2021/22, including the publication of the Schools Revenue Funding 2021/22 Operational Guidance and the provisional Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocations for 2021/22.  The Forum was advised that for 2021/22, the DSG would continue to comprise of four block – Schools block, Central Schools block, High Needs block, and Early Years block.  Details of the provisional allocations for 2021/22 were shown on page 18 of the report.  

Details relating to each of the four blocks were shown on pages 18 to 21 of the report. It was highlighted that the provisional allocation for the Early Years block was still to be confirmed.

The Forum noted that within the Schools block there were two key technical changes for mainstream schools funding, these were:

·         Funding from the teachers' pay grant and teachers' pension employer contribution grant has been incorporated into the national funding formula for 2021/22.  The funding had been added to the basic per pupil entitlement; to the minimum per pupil funding levels, and to the schools' 2020/21 funding baselines so that it was protected through the funding floor for protection purposes; and

·         The 2019 update to the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) has been incorporated so that deprivation funding allocated through the formulae is based on the latest data.

The Forum noted further that the DfE did not require the Local Authority to consult with schools concerning the above technical changes.

Further information within the guidance in relation to the Schools block was detailed on pages 19 and 20 of the report, which included an overall increase in the NFF of 4%, key formula factors monetary values increasing by 3% and pupil-led funding increasing, by at least 2%.

Appendix A (page 25) to the report provided a funding comparison of the NFF factors from 2020/21 to 2021/22.

The Forum noted that published information outlined that within the Central School Services block, the Local Authority (LA) would continue to carry out central functions on behalf of maintained schools and academies, comprising of two distinct elements.  These were on-going responsibilities and historic commitments. It was highlighted that the on-going rate per pupil for 2021/22 would be £32.75 (compared to the 2020/21 rate of £31.84).  It was noted further that the final allocation would be subject to the October 2020 school census.  The report highlighted the further 20% reduction in historical commitment funding and the impact this would have with long term contracts remaining in place.

It was reported that the published information had also outlined that within the High Needs (HN) block the provisional allocation for 2021/22 had increased by £9.507m to £102.449m.  The increased allocation also included the Teachers' pay and Teachers' pension grants for high needs establishments.  The Forum noted that the increased funding in the HN block was welcomed, however, with the current trajectory of spending and forecasted HN block overspend; and the uncertainty of future years HN block allocations beyond 2021/22 there was still an urgent need for transformation in the SEND arena and support from the schools sector.

It was highlighted that provisional information for the Early Years block had not yet been released, but confirmation had been received that funding had been confirmed for Maintained Nursery schools to the end of 2020/21 academic year.  The Forum was advised further that the DfE had confirmed that the LAs autumn term 2020 funding would be based on the January 2020, rather than the January 2021, which would provide more financial certainty for Early Year settings.

It was highlighted that some authorities, despite their best effort still had historic deficits from their DSG. The Forum noted that in these cases, the DfE would be working together with the LA to agree a plan of action to enable the LA to pay off their debt.

In conclusion, the Forum was advised that the funding announcements were again positive news for Lincolnshire; however, there was still a large level of uncertainty at a national level due to a number of factors including Covid-19 and Brexit.

Details of the proposed next steps were included on page 22 of the report.  The Forum was reminded that the NFF consultation for mainstream schools 2021/22 funding would be commencing in the autumn, and all schools were encouraged to participate in it.

During discussion, the following points were raised:

·         How were governing bodies going to maintain accuracy with their planning with the unknowns of Teachers pay and pensions and the extra funding needed to manage Covid-19.  The Forum was advised that schools needed to adopt scenario planning to estimate and incorporate such costs into their medium term finance plans.   There was recognition that there would be increasing costs,  and officers had raised these with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) regarding Covid-19, but had been advised further funding would not be available beyond the summer term to support schools with the ongoing costs of the pandemic;

·         How Nursery schools would meet the 2020 teachers pay award, when nursery schools would not be receiving a funding increase?  Officers advised that this would need to be met from 2021/22 funding levels, which were still to be confirmed.  It was highlighted that the government grant to nursery schools would be added to the Early Years block; and that this funding announcement was yet to be received beyond the 2020/21 academic year.  Again, scenario planning for the future was encouraged;   and

·         A question was asked whether the LA was proposing in the consultation for High Needs funding increase for alternative provision and specialist settings to mirror that of mainstream schools.  The Forum was advised that full consideration would be taken in relation to this including the assessment of affordability of the HN block.  It was highlighted that a review would be taking place of special schools and alternative provision school funding; and that it was hoped to implement measures in April 2021.

RESOLVED

That the National Funding Formula for Schools Update for 2021/22 be noted.