Agenda and minutes

The Vice-Chair, Anne Rogowski, welcomed members to the meeting of the Schools Forum.

To report any apologies for absence or substitutions.

Apologies for absence were received from Emma Sorsby, Stephen Campbell, Mike Harding, Linda Hanson, Lucy Crompton, Emma Hill, Danny Pearson, Tony Martin, and Jo Lowe.

To record any observers present.

Patrick Grant was in attendance as an observer.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2022.

A correction to the minutes was noted in that Frances Conway and Vicky Walker were not in attendance at the last meeting of the forum. The minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 19 May 2022 were then approved as a correct record.

To discuss any matters arising.

There were no matters arising.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with an executive summary report of the business matters included on the main agenda.

Schools’ Forum is recommended to note the executive summary and offer any views, comments and feedback to be considered for future executive summary reports.

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

A representative of the Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided the forum with an executive summary of the business matters on the agenda for consideration.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The report updates Schools’ Forum members on the implementation of the Dedicated Schools Grant, (DSG) high needs block review recommendations.

Schools’ Forum members are asked to note and comment on the update.

Officer contact Bev Milway, 0161 218 1785 or email: bev.milway@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) to update members of the implementation of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) high needs block review recommendations.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         Context was given to the high needs block review that had been carried out in 2019. It was noted that recommendations arising from the review had been through the council’s governance process, which included consideration by the relevant scrutiny committee. Following the review, the recommendations had been subject to a public consultation, which received good input. A final report was then fed back into the governance process for implementation of the recommendations in June 2021.

·         The recommendations of the DSG were across a number of areas and included but were not limited to, a new single SEND / Inclusion service and offer, specialist provision review, PRU offer and work around Early Help.

·         The new inclusion service would be operational from September 2022, which will also include introduction of a new Stockport Enhanced Learning Fund (SELF) for low level SEND support.

·         It was suggested that the inclusion service be offered to young people beyond school age.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Children’s Services.

The report discusses further with Schools’ Forum members the Government’s publication of the SEND green paper and finalise a response to the consultation.

Schools Forum members are asked to:-

(i)           Note the report

(ii)          Discuss and finalise a consultation response; and

(iii)        Offer any further comments

Officer contact Bev Milway, 0161 218 1785 or email: bev.milway@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which outlined the SEND Green paper and asked that consideration be given to the response to the consultation.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         It was felt that school staff should be more involved in writing Education and Health Care Plans (EHCP), as it is school staff, along with families, that put the plans into practice.

·         It was also felt that the language used in EHCP’s was not accessible, and accessibility could be improved. It was also suggested that a child-friendly version of plans could be made.

·         It was noted that the number of EHCPs had increased significantly for this academic year and, as a result, had led to high volumes of work. It was also noted that numbers of EHCP’s in Stockport were higher than the national average.

·         The importance of high quality staff working with young people was emphasised.

·         Members of the forum were encouraged to submit any further comments or feedback to input into the LA consultation response by email within the next week.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the recent consultation document released by the Department for Education (DfE) relating to implementing the Direct National Funding Formula (NFF) model.

Schools’ Forum members are asked to:-

(i)           Note the report

(ii)          Discuss the consultation document material/aspects; and

(iii)         Offer any further comments

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

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing an overview of the implications of a consultation document released by the Department for Education (DfE) relating to the implementation of the direct National Funding Formula (NFF) model.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         From 2023/ 2024, for those LAs not mirroring the NFF model, there would be a regulatory requirement to move towards the direct NFF model (10% transition phase proposed).

·         The consultation sought views on a series of detailed proposals relating to the implementation of the direct NFF. The consultation was expected to close at midnight, 9 September 2022. The consultation questions were set out in full at appendix 1.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the calendar dates of meetings agreed for the 2022/23 academic year.

The report also provides Schools’ Forum members with the opportunity to request reports for future meetings and/or make amendments to the forward planner (Appendix 1). The report provides Schools’ Forum members with the opportunity to request any items for training/development sessions.

Schools Forum members are asked to:

a) note the report;

b) request any reports for future meetings;

c) note/accept the 2022/2023 academic years dates provided at section 2.2; and discuss and agree a revised date for March 2023 meeting

d) Discuss and propose any amendments to the forward planner and

e) request any items for training/development sessions.

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

A representative of the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided members with details of the calendar dates of meetings agreed for the 2022/ 2023 academic year.

The report also provided members with the opportunity to request reports for future meetings and/ or make amendments to the Annual Schedule of Business at appendix 1. Members were encouraged to request any items for training/ development sessions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:

·         It was noted that the March 2023 meeting date clashed with the meeting of Full Council, and that a revised date should be sought.

·         It was noted that there would be a consultation on Early Years Funding in autumn term.

·         Members were reminded that the first meeting of the new academic year would be an in-person meeting.

·         It was suggested that a governor roundtable might be needed to consider ongoing consultations.

RESOLVED (1) – That the report be noted.

(2) – That the forum agrees a revised date for the March 2023 meeting at the next meeting of the forum.

To discuss any other business.

There was no other business to consider.