Agenda item

This report includes the outcome of the school funding consultation for 2024-25 and considers proposals for the DSG budget

The proposals include that surplus schools block funding is transferred to support the high needs budget. Also considered is how a higher level of transfer can be achieved through  mainstream schools contributing from national formula allocations. The amount of the transfer proposed for 2024-25 will be considered with the DfE as part of the deficit management plan discussions in December and January 2024.

The consultation also included proposals for a revised growth fund policy and considered funding allocated through the central school services block for 2024-25.

Responses to the consultation are set out in Appendix 2 (to follow).

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 C to these minutes in the Minute Book. The report included the outcome of the school funding consultation for 2024-25 and outlined proposals for the DSG budget. These included that surplus schools block funding be transferred to support the high needs budget. The report also considered how a higher level of transfer could be achieved through mainstream schools contributing from national formula allocations. The amount of the transfer proposed for 2024-25 would be considered with the DfE as part of the deficit management plan discussions in December and January 2024.The consultation also included proposals for a revised growth fund policy and considered funding allocated through the central school services block for 2024-25.

The Forum was advised that the consultation went out in November although there was a glitch in the online form.  Most responses were received by the deadline and a number after this from a total of 65 schools (which included a single response from a Multi Academy Trusts covering a number of schools).

The appendix with consultation responses was circulated to Forum members on the preceding Monday with information from schools. It was noted that early years’ representatives were included as schools Members for voting.

There was a surplus of block funding coming from growth fund. If there was a surplus it would be recommend that this would move across to the High Needs Block and would need to help with reducing the deficit in some way. There was a high level of support for surplus to be used in this way. The Forum was provided with an outline of the response received.

The report outlined that the Forum must be consulted on the local funding formula for mainstream schools and agree a range of central DSG budgets The Chair went through each recommendation in turn which were voted on by the appropriate Forum Members as follows:

1. Agree that as a minimum, surplus school block funding after the NFF has been applied can be transferred to support pupils with high needs.

For - 13, Against – 0, Abstain – 1

2. Agree if further school block funding can be transferred to support pupils with high needs, with NFF allocations reduced, to provide a funding transfer of at least 0.5% in total.

For - 0, Against – 13, Abstain – 1

3. Agree if a transfer above 0.5% can be considered with the DfE.

For - 0, Against - 13, Abstain 1?

4. Aree that the funding for the central schools service block is allocated fully to support the central services supporting all schools.

For - 14, Against - 0, Abstain 0

5. Recommend to Council how the NFF should be adjusted (if agreed) to provide funding to transfer to high needs – The related recommendation at 2 was not agreed.

6. Recommend to Council how the NFF should be adjusted if there is a shortfall in school block funding (without there being a transfer to high needs). The Chair outlined that this meant that a recommendation be bought back to the Forum by BCP in January 2024

For - 14, Against 0, Abstain 0

7. Agree the growth fund policy for 2024-25.

For - 14, Against - 0, Abstain 0

The Director of Children’s Services thanked the Forum for their time and consideration of these issues and would take the issues raised by the Forum on Board. The Chair acknowledged that this situation was rapidly changing and that the process had moved on from when the consultation was initially formulated, and this was not reflected fully within the consultation.