Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Education.

This report updates the Cabinet on the key announcements made by the Department for Education (DfE) on the education funding settlement for 2019/20 and invited them to approve the local funding formula models to be used to determine the individual 2019/20 budgets for early years providers and schools in Stockport.

The Cabinet is asked to:

(i)     Note the details of the Education Funding Settlement for 2019/20.

(ii)    Approves the construction of the early years budget as per section 4.5  and the updated 2019/20 local funding formula for schools as detailed in the table(s) in section 7.2 which will form the basis of the calculation of school budgets and be notified to the DfE in accordance with statutory requirements.

Officer contact: Peter Hughes, 0161 474 3947, peter.hughes@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Education submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Cabinet on key announcements made by the Department for Education on the education funding settlement for 2019/20 and inviting the Cabinet to consider the local funding formula models to be used to determine the individual 2019/20 budgets for early years providers and schools in Stockport.

The Cabinet Member summarised the key elements of the report, and highlighted that there had been no agreed National Funding Formula so there had been agreement to continue with existing local formulae. He further commented that schools were being forced to bear increasing costs meaning that they were faced with real-term cuts in funding.

The Cabinet Member specifically highlighted the previously agreed SEND investment and that a decision was awaited from the government on whether the Council was able to proceed in its planned expansion of SEND secondary school provision.

The Cabinet Member and Leader of the Council welcomed the continued support and engagement of schools through the Schools Forum in making best use of the increasingly stretched funding.

RESOLVED – (1) That the details of the Education Funding Settlement for 2019/20 be noted.

(2) That the construction of the early years budget as per section 4.5 of the report and the updated 2019/20 local funding formula for schools as detailed in the table(s) in section 7.2 be approved to form the basis of the calculation of school budgets and be notified to the Department for Education in accordance with statutory requirements.

To consider a report of the Director for Children’s Services and the Borough Treasurer.

The report outlines the Education Funding Settlement for 2019/2020.

The Scrutiny Committee are invited to consider and comment on the report.

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

The Director of Children’s Services and the Borough Treasurer submitted a joint report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the key announcements made by the Department for Education (DfE) on the education funding settlement for 2019/2020.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Councillors discussed the nursery school supplementary grant funding which was proposed to be allocated directly to nursery settings.

·         The funding for primary school places and provision for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.