Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)    the early years funding formula, as set out in table 2 in paragraph 44 of this report, is approved;

(b)   the local mainstream formula is to adopt the national funding formula (NFF) unit values as set out in the appendix to this report;   

(c)    surplus school block funding estimated at £0.185m is transferred to support the early years high needs budget in addition to the formula set out in this report.

Councillor N Green presented the report and recommendations as set out on the agenda.

In doing so, points raised included:

·     The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) funding for schools in 2023/24 had increased by 6.4%, to a total of circa £340m;

·     Pressures included general organisational costs, together with specific areas such as High Needs;

·     Work was ongoing with the Department for Education (DfE) through the ‘Delivering Better Value’ programme.

Councillor M White seconded the proposal.

Council moved to a vote where the motion as follows was carried.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)         the early years funding formula, as set out in table 2 in paragraph 44 of this report, is approved;

(b)         the local mainstream formula is to adopt the national funding formula (NFF) unit values as set out in the appendix to this report;

(c)         surplus school block funding estimated at £0.185m is transferred to support the early years high needs budget in addition to the formula set out in this report.

Voting: Unanimous.

The council receives the ring-fenced Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) to fund the separate early years and mainstream schools funding formulae. The contents of each formula are highly regulated by the Department for Education (DfE). Consultations have been undertaken with each sector, with the School’s Forum considering the outcomes on 16 January 2022 and making recommendations to the council.

The early years formula (for ages 2, 3 and 4) funds private, voluntary, and independent settings with a small number of nursery classes in mainstream schools and academies. The DSG funding rates have increased by 5.2% overall for 2023/24.

The mainstream schools formula (for reception to year 11) is applicable equally for maintained schools and academies. Funding for the for 2023/24 formula has increased by 2.4% from a combination of higher funding values, data changes and rising pupil numbers. There is an additional grant for mainstream schools with national allocation criteria worth a further 3.5%. There is surplus funding, estimated at only £0.185m, in the DSG schools block available to transfer to high needs. A higher level of transfer was proposed to the Schools Forum to be funded by capping the per pupil increases in school allocations, but this was not supported.   

RECOMMENDED that: -

1.      The early years funding formula as set out in table 2 in paragraph 44 of this report

2.     The local mainstream formula is to adopt the national funding formula (NFF) unit values as set out in the appendix to this report.   

3.     Surplus school block funding estimated at £0.185m is transferred to support the early years high needs budget in addition to the formula set out in this report.

Voting: Unanimous

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the council receives the ring-fenced Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) to fund the separate early years and mainstream schools funding formulae, and that the contents of each formula are highly regulated by the Department for Education (DfE).

Further to this Cabinet was informed that consultations have been undertaken with each sector, with the School’s Forum considering the outcomes on 16 January 2022 and making recommendations to the council.

Cabinet was informed that the early years formula (for ages 2, 3 and 4) funds private, voluntary, and independent settings with a small number of nursery classes in mainstream schools and academies., and that the DSG funding rates have increased by 5.2% overall for 2023/24.

Cabinet was advised that the mainstream schools formula (for reception to year 11) is applicable equally for maintained schools and academies. Funding for the for 2023/24 formula has increased by 2.4% from a combination of higher funding values, data changes and rising pupil numbers, and that there is an additional grant for mainstream schools with national allocation criteria worth a further 3.5% and that there is surplus funding, estimated at only £0.185m, in the DSG schools block available to transfer to high needs. In relation to this Cabinet was informed that a higher level of transfer was proposed to the Schools Forum to be funded by capping the per pupil increases in school allocations, but this was not supported. 

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)              The early years funding formula as set out in table 2 in paragraph 44 of this report

(b)             The local mainstream formula is to adopt the national funding formula (NFF) unit values as set out in the appendix to this report.   

(c)             Surplus school block funding estimated at £0.185m is transferred to support the early years high needs budget in addition to the formula set out in this report.   

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children and Young People