Meeting documents

Apologies were received from:

·         Ms D Rutley

·         Mr D Hood

·         Ms S Skinner

·         Mr S Kearey

·         Ms A Coneron – Sent representative, Ms S Stephenson (Principal, Booker Park and Stocklake Park)

·         Mr M Moore

·         Ms K Duckworth

·         Mr P Ward - Sent representative, Mr D Mortimer (Chiltern Way Federation)

·         Ms L Grexhammer

·         Ms S Callaghan– Sent representative, Ms L Nankin (Head of Fair Access and Youth Provision)

·         Ms S Fahey

·         Mr M Appleyard

·         Ms J Freeman

·         Ms J Nicholls

There were none.

To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2017 as an accurate record.

It was noted that Sarah Fahey (Brindley House) had given her apologies at the last meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2017 were agreed as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.  

Ms L Nankin, Head of Fair Access and Youth Provision, to provide an update on behalf of the Director for Education on the SEND review.

Ms A Wellings, SEND Reforms Strategic Lead, presented her report and gave a verbal update on implementing the SEND Strategy.

The following points were raised during discussion and in answer to the Forum Members’ questions:

·         Following the agreed budget proposals in relation to High Needs Block Funding, the Local Authority would aim to better meet additional needs by investing in local special and mainstream provision.

·         The data presented showed that there would be a significant rise in pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) requiring support. and that this primary need was significant and increasing.

·         260-290 pupils were placed out of County.

·         The targets suggested to keep children in County would equate to no more than 12 new independent places per year.

·         The target budget set would mean a reduction of £20m by 2022.

·         The Local Authority would invest in local schools and provisions which would result in an additional 1800 in County places.

·         An in depth discussion took place regarding the wide range of needs that were met by Additional Resourced Provisions (ARPs) and the predicted increase in pupils.

·         Funding for mainstream schools would increase from £6.2m £7.7m.

·         There would be a potential increase in pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) from 1,300 to 1,550 over the next five years.

·         The Forum discussed funding for schools that had children with additional needs as opposed to schools that would receive funding for children with an EHCP.

·         Appendix 3 showed broadly where growth would be predicted according to primary need. This prediction was based on trends and needs across a five year period.

·         The Forum noted the reduction in sensory and physical need and that these figures were predictions not real cases. The Forum discussed the advantages of using real cases for this report.

·         A quarterly review of the data would ensure the robustness of the projections.

·         It was noted that Buckinghamshire County Council would be benchmarked above statistical neighbours in terms of spending.

·         The Local Authority would aim to reduce spend by meeting needs as locally as possible and supporting children in mainstream schools.

·         An in depth discussion took place in relation to concerns raised by Forum Members about how the savings targets would impact on children whilst ensuring that needs would still be met. The Forum Members discussed the proposed action on page 13 where it had been recommended that Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD) would be phased out and how the needs of these children would be met. This was as a result of discussions with a number of special school head teachers who had agreed that the designation of MLD did not appropriately describe many of their pupils.

·          The Penn site is now owned by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and there were a number of partners who had shown interest in developing the site.

·         The Forum Members discussed the importance of ensuring that designations were accurate and adequately met the needs of the children. It was suggested that this would need to be monitored and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Mr J Huskinson, Finance Director, to provide a report and updates on Schools Funding and the National Funding Formula.

Mr J Huskinson, Finance Director, presented his report and provided a verbal update on Schools Funding and the National Funding Formula.

The following points were raised in discussion and in answer to Member’s questions:

·         The report showed estimated rates and school budgets after applying the agreed Funding Formula.

·         The budgets had been modelled on the basis that the disapplication request for exceptional premises costs for small schools would be agreed.

·         Funds had been allocated as agreed following the decision taken by Mr M Appleyard on Dedicated Schools Grant and Schools Funding in December 2017.

RESOLVED

The Schools Forum Members NOTED Mr Huskinson’s report.

To discuss any other business.  

·         An in depth discussion took place in relation to Buckinghamshire County Council’s involvement with the F40 Group.

·         It was agreed that an F40 update should be added to the agenda for the next meeting.

ACTION: Ms L Dale and Mr J Huskinson

It was noted that Mr Huskinson would be leaving the organisation and as such this would be his last meeting. The Chairman thanked Mr Huskinson on behalf of the Schools Forum for his hard work over the years and wished him the best in his new role.

Mr J Huskinson, Finance Director, to present a report on funding deductions for Excluded Pupils

Mr J Huskinson, Finance Director, Mr J Huskinson, Finance Director, presented his report and provided a verbal update on funding deductions for Excluded Pupils.

The following points were raised during discussion and in answer to Member’s questions:

·         Mr Huskinson explained that if schools were funded for a pupil who was then excluded then the funding should be taken away. If a school were to take on a child who had been excluded previously that school should then receive the funding.

·         The Department for Education had given further clarification that the period for deductions would only be applicable for 1 financial year.

·         It was suggested that schools should be asked for feedback on this to prevent unintended circumstances. The Forum Members discussed the possible implications of the recent guidance. There would be no fine to schools but instead there would be a calculation about how much the funding would change.

·         Mr Huskinson and Ms J Try would discuss the calculations and bring their findings to the next meeting of the Schools Forum Funding Group to be held on 2 March 2018.

·         The Forum decided that the Pupil Referral Units should be involved in this discussion and asked for their views.

ACTION: Mr J Huskinson and Ms J Try

RESOLVED

The Schools Forum AGREED to delegate to the Schools Forum Funding Sub Group the review of the current local agreement and methodology and consider the options

20 March 2018, 14:00, Green Park, Knight Hall

20 March 2018, 2.00 pm, Green Park, Knight Hall