Issue - meetings

The council  is required to set funding formulae for:

•           Early education and childcare for those aged 2 and 3&4

•           Mainstream schools for reception to year 11

Consultation has taken place with all relevant providers, schools and the Schools Forum. This report includes the recommendations of the Schools Forum for approval.

To support councillor consideration, the Schools Forum Papers can be accessed by the link below:

BCP Schools Forum

The impact of the proposed funding changes is included in the report at summary level. The  early yearssector is largely comprised of private, voluntary and independent settings.   The mainstream formula allocates funding only to public sector schools with the full details shown in Schools Forum papers.

The 2020/21 Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) report on the Cabinet agenda includes the decision to support the DSG High Needs budget with a transfer of £4.0 million from Schools Block and £0.2 million from Early Years Block.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance 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 were advised that the Council is required to set funding formulae for:

• Early education and childcare for those aged 2 and 3 & 4
• Mainstream schools for reception to year 11

In relation to this Members were advised that consultation had taken place with all relevant providers, schools and the Schools Forum.

This report and recommendations were considered by the Cabinet at the same time as the Medium Term Financial Plan Budget report.

RECOMMENDED that:-

(a)        the early years formula set out in Table 2 of paragraph 21 be approved;

(b)        the mainstream school’s formula set out in Table 6 of Appendix 2 of the report be approved allowing for a £4 million (1.91%) transfer of Schools Block funding to High Needs;

(c)        if DfE approval is given for a transfer up to only £1.8m, the local formula is to adopt the NFF funding values and mechanisms;

(d)        delegation of the final decision on the mainstream school’s formula, when all DfE decisions are known, be given to the Corporate Director, Children’s Services, in consultation with the Children’s Services Cabinet Member, taking into account the methodology recommended by the Schools Forum in Table 8 of Appendix 3 of the report; and

(e)        the Minimum Funding Guarantee for specialist providers is set at 0 per cent to allow maximum budget flexibility.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance

The Portfolio Holder for Finance 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 were advised that the Council is required to set funding formulae for:

• Early education and childcare for those aged 2 and 3 & 4
• Mainstream schools for reception to year 11

In relation to this Members were advised that consultation had taken place with all relevant providers, schools and the Schools Forum.

This report and recommendations were considered by the Cabinet at the same time as the Medium Term Financial Plan Budget report.

RECOMMENDED that:-

(a)        the early years formula set out in Table 2 of paragraph 21 be approved;

(b)        the mainstream school’s formula set out in Table 6 of Appendix 2 of the report be approved allowing for a £4 million (1.91%) transfer of Schools Block funding to High Needs;

(c)        if DfE approval is given for a transfer up to only £1.8m, the local formula is to adopt the NFF funding values and mechanisms;

(d)        delegation of the final decision on the mainstream school’s formula, when all DfE decisions are known, be given to the Corporate Director, Children’s Services, in consultation with the Children’s Services Cabinet Member, taking into account the methodology recommended by the Schools Forum in Table 8 of Appendix 3 of the report; and

(e)        the Minimum Funding Guarantee for specialist providers is set at 0 per cent to allow maximum budget flexibility.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance