Agenda

To receive any apologies for absence.

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.

To elect a Chair of the Schools Forum until the reconstitution of the Forum is agreed or until the first meeting of the next academic year, whichever is sooner.

To elect a Vice-Chair of the Schools Forum until the reconstitution of the Forum is agreed or until the first meeting of the next academic year, whichever is sooner.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 26 June 2023 as a correct record.

The report contains the DfE July DSG announcements for the schools, high needs, and central school services blocks.

It also contains the latest position for the DSG accumulated deficit and the details of the DfE Safety Valve Intervention programme that the council has been invited to join.

In January 2022, Schools Forum agreed that the surplus schools block funding should be transferred to the high needs and early years budgets. The surplus was estimated at £180,000 though the final outturn figure was £360k.

BCP Council plans to set up a Dingley’s Promise centre within the nursery space at the Kinson and West Howe Family Hub.

Dingley’s Promise is an established, experienced organisation with a strong, positive track record for supporting early years children with SEND with Ofsted registered centres operating in Berkshire, Hampshire, Reading, Woking, and Gloucester.

Each year since 2019, BCP Council spends more on SEND provision than is available from the high needs block allocation, to deliver the services required by statute. This expenditure is not allowed to be covered by Council Tax under the relevant legislation. BCP Council’s cumulative high needs block deficit has grown to £35.8m at the end of March 2023. This pressure has arisen from a number of factors driven by the 2014 SEND reforms. The 2023-24 in-year budgeted high needs funding shortfall due to the growing demand is £27.1m, meaning that by March 2024 the deficit will have grown to £62.9m.

The DSG Management Plan will be used to submit a proposal to the DfE for the Safety Valve Programme. This plan sets out the Council’s strategy for reforming its high needs system, enabling it to function sustainably and in the best interests of children and young people in the BCP area.

To consider and note the Forward Plan

The Forum is asked to note the proposed dates for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years:

20 November 2023

15 January 2024

24 June 2024

23 September 2024

18 November 2024

13 January 2025

23 June 2025

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