Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from:

Mr H Beveridge (Long Crendon School), Ms J Divers (Turnfurlong School), Ms S Fahey (Brindley House School), Ms N Lovegrove (The Village Pre-School), Ms S Skinner (Bowerdean & Henry Allen Nursery Schools), Mr S Sneesby (Kite Ridge School).

The Chairman introduced Mr Simon James, Service Director for Education, Buckinghamshire Council and welcomed him to the meeting and the Schools Forum Committee.

To disclose any Personal or Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

There were none.

Verbal update to be provided by the Chairman of the Schools Forum Funding Group, Ms K Tamlyn.

The action notes from the Schools Forum Funding Group were appended to the minutes for information.

To be presented by Ms E Williams, Head of Finance, Children’s Services, Buckinghamshire Council.

Ms E Williams, Head of Finance- Childrens Services, Buckinghamshire Council, gave an overview of the report provided.

Recommendation:

Schools Forum Funding Group is asked to note the final outturn position against the Dedicated Schools Grant in 2019-20

Resolved:

The Schools Forum NOTED the final outturn position against the Dedicated Schools Grant in 2019-20.

To be presented by Ms E Williams, Head of Finance, Children’s Services, Buckinghamshire Council.

Ms E Williams, Head of Finance- Childrens Services, Buckinghamshire Council, gave an overview of the report provided.

To explore whether the option of numbers/data of parental tribunal appeals would be a Schools Forum piece.

ACTION: Ms E Williams

To review assumptions of the budget of the High Needs Block Spend- exceptional support budget prior to the meeting.

ACTION: Ms E Williams

Page 23, High Needs Recovery Plan - to add a name to each action as to who is leading for each item. To also add some success criteria to each area, which is measurable.

ACTION: Ms E Williams

Appendix 2- External placements- this was now well established, and a further update would be provided at the next Schools Forum.

ACTION: Ms E Williams

Recommendation:

Schools Forum is asked to note the impact of the final outturn for 2019-20 on the High Needs budget for 2020-21 and to agree the proposed approach for the development of a High Needs Block Recovery Plan.

Resolved:

The Schools Forum NOTED the impact of the final outturn for 2019-20 on the High Needs budget for 2020-21 and AGREED the proposed approach for the development of a High Needs Block Recovery Plan.

To be presented by Ms E Williams, Head of Finance, Children’s Services, Buckinghamshire Council.

Ms E Williams, Head of Finance- Childrens Services, Buckinghamshire Council, gave an overview of the report provided.

To share with the forum who is on the Needs  and Provision working group.

ACTION: Ms E Williams

Recommendation:

Schools Forum is asked to 

a) NOTE the outcomes of the consultation with schools on the mechanism for allocating top-up funding for pupils with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), ie,

1. That the recommended approach of a needs led funding approach based on an adapted model for Buckinghamshire is supported.
2. That the model should be supported by a moderation process.
3. That there should be a phased implementation, beginning with special schools with roll out to mainstream and further settings in future years.  

b)    Note the proposed time lines for implementation.

c)     Agree the basis for calculating top-up values proposed by the Needs and Provision Group, including the application of a fringe uplift where appropriate.

d)    Agree the principles for transition to the new model including support for schools that would see a reduction in funding under the proposed model.

e)    Agree to seek an exemption from the Minimum Funding Guarantee for Special Schools in the 2021-22 financial year in order to move toward the new funding mechanism through the implementation of transitional support.

Resolved:

Schools Forum:

a) NOTED the outcomes of the consultation with schools on the mechanism for allocating top-up funding for pupils with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), ie,

4. That the recommended approach of a needs led funding approach based on an adapted model for Buckinghamshire is supported.
5. That the model should be supported by a moderation process.
6. That there should be a phased implementation, beginning with special schools with roll out to mainstream and further settings in future years.  

b)    NOTED the proposed time lines for implementation.

c)     AGREED the basis for calculating top-up values proposed by the Needs and Provision Group, including the application of a fringe uplift where appropriate.

d)    AGREED the principles for transition to the new model including support for schools that would see a reduction in funding under the proposed model.

e)    AGREED to seek an exemption from the Minimum Funding Guarantee for Special Schools in the 2021-22 financial year in order to move toward the new funding mechanism through the implementation of transitional support.

To be presented by Mr J Carter, School’s Accountant, Buckinghamshire Council.

Mr J Carter, Senior Accountant, Buckinghamshire Council gave an overview of the report provided.

Recommendation:

To note the surplus and deficit balances for maintained schools as at 31 March 2020.  

Resolved:

The Schools Forum NOTED the surplus and deficit balances for maintained schools as at 31 March 2020.  

Update to be provided by the Chairman of the Contingency Group, Ms J Freeman.

Mr David Hood, Cressex School gave an overview of the report provided.

Recommendations: 

Schools Forum is asked to:

a)    Note the report detailing the decisions of the Contingency Group.

b)    Agree changes to the to the Contingency Group’s Terms of Reference as set out in 2.4 and 2.5.

Resolved:

The School Forum:

a)    NOTED the report detailing the decisions of the Contingency Group.

b)    AGREED changes to the to the Contingency Group’s Terms of Reference as set out in 2.4 and 2.5.

The forum NOTED the forward plan.

Additional Paper-

Post-19 Students - Change to School Funding Regulations for Post-19 Students. To be presented by Ms E Williams, Head of Finance, Children’s Services, Buckinghamshire Council.

Post-19 Students - Change to School Funding Regulations for Post-19 Students

Ms H Slinn, Head of SEN gave an overview of the report provided.

Recommendation:

Schools Forum is asked to support the application to the DfE to vary the Schools Funding rules to enable continued support of post-19 students in special schools as a result of Covid-19

Resolved:

School Forum AGREED to SUPPORT the application to the DfE to vary the Schools Funding rules to enable continued support of post-19 students in special schools as a result of Covid-19

AOB

• It was requested for best wishes, praise and thanks be passed on to Ms J Try for all her hard work with the Schools Forum. Best wishes were sent for her new role within Buckinghamshire Council.

·       It was requested for the next meeting for an item to be added to AOB to hold a discussion on:

‘Our plans for urgently addressing educational disadvantage in Buckinghamshire BAME communities and in areas of social disadvantage.  Short/medium/long term goals: how they will be reached, how they will be supported financially and the Schools Forum’s role in ensuring they are achieved’.

ACTION: Ms C Beevers

• It was requested if an officer would prepare a paper for the October meeting on the gap in achievement in Buckinghamshire between black and minority ethnic students and their white peers. To put forward a plan to address the issue as a matter of urgency including links for funding.

ACTION: Mr G Drawmer/Mr S James

13 October 2020, 1.30- 4.00pm.

Darke Hall, Green Park.

13 October 2020, 1.30-4.00pm

MS Teams Virtual Meeting