Issue - meetings

The council  is required to set funding formulae for:

•                Early education and childcare for eligible 2 year olds and and all 3&4 year olds.

•                Mainstream schools for pupls in reception to year 11

The  early years sector 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 School’s Forum papers.

Consultation has taken place with all relevant providers, schools and the School’s Forum.

This report includes the recommendations of the Schools Forum for approval. To support Cabinet consideration, the School’s Forum Papers can be accessed through the link below:

BCP Schools Forum

RECOMMENDED that:-

(a)          The early years funding formula as set out in Table 2 of paragraph 31 be approved;

(b)          The mainstream school’s funding formula set out in Table 6 of Appendix 2 allowing for a £1.1 million (0.5%) transfer of Schools Block funding to support High Needs be approved;

(c)          The local formula to adopt the National Funding Formula (NFF) funding values and mechanisms as set out in the report be agreed;

(d)          Delegation of the final decision on the mainstream school’s formula, when all DfE decisions are known, to the Corporate Director, Children’s Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Covid Resilience, Schools and Skills, taking into account the methodology recommended by the School’s Forum in Table 8 of Appendix 3; and

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

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Covid Resilience, Public Health and Education

The Portfolio Holder for Covid Resilience, Public Health and Eduction presented a report and additional erratum notice, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'F' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was informed that the council  is required to set funding formulae for:

·         Early education and childcare for eligible 2 year olds and all 3&4 year olds; and

·         Mainstream schools for pupls in reception to year 11

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that the  early years sector is largely comprised of private, voluntary and independent settings, and that the mainstream formula allocates funding only to public sector schools with the full details shown in School’s Forum papers.

Further to this Cabinet was informed that consultation has taken place with all relevant providers, schools and the School’s Forum, and that this report includes the recommendations of the Schools Forum for approval.  

RECOMMENDED that:-

(a)         The early years funding formula as set out in Table 2 of paragraph 31 be approved;

(b)         The mainstream school’s funding formula set out in Table 6 of Appendix 2 allowing for a £1.1 million (0.5%) transfer of Schools Block funding to support High Needs be approved;

(c)         The local formula to adopt the National Funding Formula (NFF) funding values and mechanisms as set out in the report be agreed;

(d)         Delegation of the final decision on the mainstream school’s formula, when all DfE decisions are known, to the Corporate Director, Children’s Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Covid Resilience, Schools and Skills, taking into account the methodology recommended by the School’s Forum in Table 8 of Appendix 3; and

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

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Covid Resilience, Public Health and Education