Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services.

The report provide Schools Forum members with details of the key information emanating from the Chancellors comprehensive spend review (CSR) statement (25 November 2015) and the ministerial announcement made to Parliament relating to the 2016/17 Schools funding settlement (17 December 2015).

Schools Forum is asked to note the report.

Officer Contact: Peter Hughes on 0161 474 3947 or email peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing details of the key information emanating from the Chancellors comprehensive spend review (CSR) statement (25 November 2015) and the ministerial announcement made to Parliament relating to the 2016/17 Schools funding settlement (17 December 2015).

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Representations were made in relation to the impact on primary sector schools of the introduction of the universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) initiative and the costs of providing school meals to all key stage one pupils against funding provided via the delegated formula and other grant funding streams;

·         It was felt that schools with higher levels of deprivation were disproportionately having to cover the cost of providing school meals;

·         It was predicted that the F40 proposed funding formula would provide an extra £2.9m to Stockport equating to £30k per school which was considered not sufficient to address the imbalance in funding;

·         There was no indication that DfE would accept the F40 proposed funding formula;

·         It was acknowledged that a change in the formula may partly address the current imbalance in funding but may not completely solve it;

·         Further details of DfE planned consultations would provide further details regarding the reduction of the Local Authority’s role in schools.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services be requested to submit a report at a future meeting outlining further information regarding the funding and cost of free school meals.