Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Chris Barnett and Sean Preston.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

None

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 18 November 2024, as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 November were approved as a correct record.

1.     The DSG Settlement for 2025-26 was received on 18 December 2024. It included:

a.   Indicative allocations for the early years block, with the 47% increase of £17m to £53.5m reflecting the phased expansions of the free childcare entitlements for working parents and increase in hourly funding rates. 

b.   Final allocations for the school’s block based on the October 2024 schools census, with the increase of 1.7% to £280.7m through the schools NFF reflecting higher factor unit values and an increase in pupil characteristic data partially offset by a net reduction in pupil roll.   

c.   Final allocations for the central school services block of £2.2m, providing an increase of 3.5% for on-going functions, including for the national insurance increase from April 2025.

d.   Indicative allocations for the high needs block are for an increase of £3.8m (6.2%) to £64.5m. 

2.     A draft DSG budget for 2025-26 is provided in the Appendix to provide context for decisions on the meeting agenda. The funding gap for high needs pupils is projected to be £57.5m. 

The report also includes budget monitoring information for quarter three 2024-25. This indicates that the accumulated DSG deficit is projected at £108m for March 2025, rising to  £165.5m by March 2026.

The Assistant Chief Finance Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The Forum was advised that the schools and early years blocks were considered in separate papers on the meeting agenda. The DSG Settlement for 2025-26 was received on 18 December 2024. It included:

·     Indicative allocations for the early years block, with the 47% increase of £17m to £53.5m reflecting the phased expansions of the free childcare entitlements for working parents and increase in hourly funding rates. 

·     Final allocations for the school’s block based on the October 2024 schools census, with the increase of 1.7% to £280.7m through the schools NFF reflecting higher factor unit values and an increase in pupil characteristic data partially offset by a net reduction in pupil roll.   

·     Final allocations for the central school services block of £2.2m, providing an increase of 3.5% for on-going functions, including for the national insurance increase from April 2025.

·     Indicative allocations for the high needs block are for an increase of £3.8m (6.2%) to £64.5m. 

A draft DSG budget for 2025-26 was provided with in an Appendix to provide context for decisions on the meeting agenda. The funding gap for high needs pupils is projected to be £57.5m.  The report also includes budget monitoring information for quarter three 2024-25. This indicates that the accumulated DSG deficit is projected at £108m for March 2025, rising to  £165.5m by March 2026.

RESOLVED that

1.    The contents of the report be noted.

2.    That the budgets within the central schools services block (CSSB) as detailed in paragraph 20 of the report be agreed.

Voting: Unanimous

This report provides further information relating to the proposals for the use of the £2.8 million Innovation Fund.

The Fund was previously proposed as a way to provide support to mainstream schools to enable them to successfully maintain more placements for pupils with SEND in their mainstream settings to reduce the number of new ECHNAs and use of Alternative Provision where possible. This report includes the content of those proposals, the breakdown of the financial costs, and potential consequences from the decision made by Schools Forum.

The Interim Head of Schools Inclusion 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.

This report provided further information relating to the proposals for the use of the £2.8 million Innovation Fund.

The Fund was proposed as a way to provide support to mainstream schools to enable them to successfully maintain more placements for pupils with SEND in their mainstream settings to reduce the number of new ECHNAs and use of Alternative Provision where possible. This report includes the content of those proposals, the breakdown of the financial costs, and potential consequences from the decision made by Schools Forum.

The forum raised questions about whether the £500,000 allocated for outreach would be distributed over a period of time. It was confirmed that this amount would serve as the annual allocation for the financial year, in addition to the existing funding for outreach. The forum was assured that the application process for this funding would be transparent, with clear criteria established. The SEND Sufficiency Progress Board would review the applications, and officers informed the forum that they could share relevant information about this process.

Additionally, the forum was informed that KPIs and service level agreements would be established to measure the effectiveness of the funding. These would outline key deliverables and emphasise the importance of early intervention. The forum agreed that safeguards were necessary for smaller schools, ensuring that funding bids would be accessible to all institutions.

RESOLVED that Schools Forum:

-       Note the information in the report,

-       Recommend agreement for provision of the £2.8 million funding for BCP Council to proceed with the proposed actions including a preference for it to be allocated to the most useful area of training based on the available information,

-       consider the benefits of agreeing ongoing funding for the Inclusion Consultant roles as opposed to restricting the funding to one year and repeated approvals where posts would have to remain fixed term for short periods, reducing the potential pool of candidates who would apply, and

-       consider the context of the current landscape when making its recommendation in relation to the Innovation Fund. If it considers recommending against the Innovation Fund, this report recommends that Schools Forum will need to consider what it sees as the alternative solution to the Innovation Fund to support the work with mainstream inclusion moving forwards

-       once the decision has been finalised, at least two members of the Schools Forum will participate in the discussion to ensure that the Forum has oversight and can contribute to the final decision regarding funding allocation.

Voting: Unanimous

The Forum recognised that progress had been needed on this item but was mindful that the Schools Forum had to monitor it and might need to consider future funding allocations.

The Chair advised he would reach out to Schools Forum members to confirm who would participate in the final discussion. ACTION  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

This report sets out the outcome of applying the 2025-26 National Funding Formula (NFF) to the October 2024 schools census data and options for the local mainstream schools funding formula linked to the final decision regarding a transfer of funding to high needs. It also sets out the 2025-26 growth fund budget for approval.

The Assistant Chief Financial Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book. The Schools Forum would be consulted on the local mainstream school funding formula and was requested to make recommendations to Council to cover the differing levels of funding transfer that could be finally agreed as decisions from the DfE remain outstanding. The report sets out the outcome of applying the 2025-26 National Funding Formula (NFF) to the October 2024 schools census data and options for the local mainstream schools funding formula linked to the final decision regarding a transfer of funding to high needs. It also sets out the 2025-26 growth fund budget for approval.

BCP Council confirmed to the Forum that they would seek a transfer of 1% from the DfE, even if the Schools Forum were not in agreement.

The Schools Forum was informed that BCP Council had not consulted all schools prior to making the decision, as required by the Schools Operating Guide. However, they confirmed that extensive consultation had taken place regarding the innovation fund. It was noted that information from the DfE was received too late for effective consultation with all schools this year if the DfE timetable was to be met. However, consultation could still be done, and the Schools Forum reconvened if considered necessary. The Inclusion Fund and the Forum papers from previous meetings had been shared with the DfE. The funding transfer would be used for the innovation fund and not set against the deficit.

All Members:

1.    RESOLVED that a transfer of £1.1m, being surplus school block funding, be supported as a transfer to support expenditure on high needs pupils in the light of the December settlement for 2025-26 and outcome of the national funding formula (NFF) for mainstream schools.

Voting: 11 in favour; 0 against; 3 abstentions

The following options were also considered and rejected by the Schools Forum:

a.    Transfer 0.5% with NFF allocations to be reduced by 0.11% being the maximum the Schools Forum alone can agree

Voting: 11 against; 0 in favour; 3 abstentions

b.      Transfer 1.0% with NFF allocations to be reduced by 0.61% being the amount needed to fully fund the proposed innovation fund and requiring approval of the DfE.

 Voting: 11 against; 0 in favour; 3 abstentions

School Members:

2.  RESOLVED that the growth fund budget requirement of £150,000 as set out in paragraph 17 of the report be agreed.

Voting: Unanimous

3.    RESOLVED that the Forum recommend to Council the following preferred options for the local mainstream formula for each level of transfer which could be finally agreed as set out in paragraph 29 of the report: 

• Option 2a (all schools contributing) in regard to a 0.5% transfer.

Voting: 7 in favour; 3 against; 3 abstentions

• Option 3a (all schools contributing) in regards to a 1% transfer

Voting: 6 in favour; 4 against; 3 abstentions

Options 2b (Excluding MPPFL  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

This report provides proposals for:

·     the central retention of services for the 2025/26 financial year where the LA retains a statutory duty to undertake activity to support maintained schools only (both mainstream and specialist);

·     de-delegation of services for the 2025/26 financial year applicable only to mainstream schools. These are services where schools retain the statutory duties, but better efficiency could be achieved through central delivery by the LA.

The Head of School Places, Funding and Admissions presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Maintained School Forum members must be consulted on proposals for the central retention and de-delegated budget shares and agree these.

This report provides proposals for:

·     the central retention of services for the 2025/26 financial year where the LA retains a statutory duty to undertake activity to support maintained schools only (both mainstream and specialist);

·     de-delegation of services for the 2025/26 financial year applicable only to mainstream schools. These are services where schools retain the statutory duties, but better efficiency could be achieved through central delivery by the LA.

Following some discussion, Schools Forum did not agree to the recommendation outlined in the report. Instead, they suggested holding a meeting with all maintained headteachers to reach an agreement regarding this report outside of the meeting.

To consider and note the Forward Plan

The Forward Plan for the Forum was noted.

To note the future meeting dates as follows:

·       23 June 2025

·       29 September 2025

·       24 November 2025

·       19 January 2026

·       22 June 2026

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 23 June.

To consider any other business, which, in the opinion of the Chairman, is of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration.

None.