Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Emma Hill, welcomed members to the meeting of Schools’ Forum.

To report any apologies for absence or substitutions.

Apologies for absence were received from Linda Hanson, Richard Knott, Ian Irwin and Emma Sorsby.

To record any observers present.

Emma Morton was present as an observer.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2022.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 8 December 2022 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

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 Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive.

The report provides Schools’ Forum Members with the final details of 2023/24 Schools Funding announcement by the Department of Education (DfE) on 16 December 2022.

Schools’ Forum is requested to note the report and offer any further comments.

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

A representative of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided  Schools’ Forum Members with the final details of 2023/24 Schools Funding announcement by the Department of Education (DfE) on 16 December 2022.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members of the Forum expressed concerns that the funding was not enough especially when the cost-of-living crisis was taken into account and asked whether anything could be done about this?  In response, the Forum was advised that feedback would be given to the DfE.

·         Members of the Forum acknowledged that there was more funding for early years whose funding had not increased significantly for over 10 years, however overall, the announcement would have a huge negative impact on schools.

·         Fuel bills were a matter of great concern among many schools as bills had risen significantly and schools had not necessarily budgeted for this. A lot of young people would already be cold as their parents may not be able to afford their heating bills.  Particularly in areas of deprivation, it was important to ensure that children were kept warm and given a hot meal.

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 2023/24 DSG allocation and provides an updated on the construction of the 2023/24 total schools’ budget.  The report also provides details of the final construction of the early years and schools block budgets.

The report seeks final approval of the proposed final budget for the central school services block and seeks views on any other budget matters (i.e. high needs).

Schools’ Forum Members are asked to:

a)    Note the report;

b)   Give views/comments on the budget information/allocations as outlined in section 3 for the early years block with additional detail at Appendix 1 & 2;

c)    Approve the final budget allocations for the central school services block as per section 4.6 / Appendix 3;

d)   Give views/comments on the final schools’ block local funding formula model as per section 5.3 and overview table at section 5.9

e)    Note the adjusted central reserve budget for 2023/24 at £1.158m as per section 5.6;

f)     Note the final de-delegated budget allocations at section 5.8 which are aligned to decisions confirmed at last meeting; and

g)   Give views/comments on the high needs budget block information as per section 6

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

A representative of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools’ Forum members with details of the 2023/24 DSG allocation and provides an updated on the construction of the 2023/24 total schools’ budget.  The report also provided details of the final construction of the early years and schools block budgets.

The report sought final approval of the proposed final budget for the central school services block and seeks views on any other budget matters (i.e. high needs).

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         The Chair read out a copy of a letter from Stockport Private Providers who asked for their views to be formally noted.  Members of the Forum were advised that a formal response would be sent to this letter by the Director of Education, Work and Skills.

·         It was accepted by all Members of the Forum that the money that had been given was insufficient for the task in hand.

·         Members of the Forum asked if it would be possible to have details of what the retained monies are used for.

·         It was acknowledged that it was important to support the early years sector as this has a knock-on effect throughout a pupils whole school career.  The Forum was advised that the intention was to set up an early years group to discuss in more detail whether there was any more that could be done.  Unfortunately, options were very limited.

·         The Chair of the Forum requested that in forthcoming meetings, more detail be provided in relation to early years spending.

·         Concerns were expressed that education should focus on the holistic development of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs in order to build a solid and broad foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing.

·         The Forum queried whether any unused funds from those set aside to fund MFG protection or infant class size support could be used to help the Early Years funding as time goes on.  In response, the Forum was advised that there would be no excess from MFG Protection and any underspend would go on the high needs deficit.

·         The Forum felt that some training on these issues would be helpful as the matters were very complex.

·         In response to a question regarding what could be done about high needs pressures, the Forum was advised that action was needed from the government following the green paper.  The Council would continue on the path that it was currently taking.

·         Schools raised the issue of spending their allocations on the increasing numbers of SEN children within schools.  This was felt to be placing even greater pressure on existing staff.

·         Members of the Forum felt that all sectors of education were losing staff at an alarming rate.

·         The issue of exclusion and attendance of vulnerable children also needed to be explored.

  RESOLVED – (a) That the report be noted.

(b) That the final budget allocations for the central school services block as per section 4.6/Appendix 3 be approved.

(c) That the adjusted central reserve budget for 2023/24 at £1.158m as per section 5.6 be noted.

(d) That the final de-delegated budget allocations at section 5.8 which are aligned to decisions confirmed at the last meeting, be noted.

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

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the final 2023/24 Local Authority (LA) annual pro-forma toolkit (APT) return to be submitted to the Department for Education (DfE).

Schools’ Forum members are asked to note the report and offer any further comments.

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

A representative of the Borough Treasurer and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools’ Forum members with details of the final 2023/24 Local Authority (LA) annual pro-forma toolkit (APT) return to be submitted to the Department for Education (DfE).

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The verbal report updates Schools’ Forum members on the dedicated schools grant (DSG) Review.

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 Director of Children’s Services gave a verbal update to Schools’ Forum members on the dedicated schools grant (DSG) review.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         It was agreed that a more focused session on the high needs block would take place at the March meeting of Schools Forum.

·         Members of the Forum were requested to submit any questions that they may have in advance of the meeting, if possible.

·         It was also agreed that further work needed to be done around the issue of increasing parent demand for Education, Health and Care Plans.

·         Members of the Forum expressed their thanks to officers for all the hard work that had taken place on the DSG Review.

RESOLVED – That the verbal report be noted.

To discuss any other business.

There was no other business.