Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Emma Hill, welcomed members to this meeting of Schools’ Forum including new members Di Horrocks and Stephen Murphy.

To report any apologies for absence or substitutions.

Apologies for absence were received from Andy Jackson, Emma Sorsby, Lucy Cooney and Geraldine Gerrard.

To record any observers present.

No observers were present.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 2024.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 12 December 2024 were approved as a correct record.

To discuss any matters arising.

That Section 8 – 4^th bullet point be amended in the minutes to read LA would NOT be able to claw back monies from academy schools once conversion completed.

The Forum was advised that the consultation on surplus school balances would be ready to be circulated on Monday 20 January 2025.

To consider a report of the Director of Finance and Director of Education, Work and Skills

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

A representative of the Director of Finance and Director of Education, Work and Skills submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated), which provided Schools’ Forum with an executive summary of the business matters on the agenda for consideration.

RESOLVED – That the Executive Summary be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Finance and Director of Education, Work and Skills

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with the final details of the 2025/26 Schools Funding announcement by Department for Education (DfE) on 18 December 2024.

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

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

A representative of the Director of Finance and Director of Education, Work and Skills submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools’ Forum members with the final details of the 2025/26 Schools Funding announcement by Department for Education (DfE) on 18 December 2024.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         Members of the Forum asked how the funding announcement would impact special and maintained schools.

·         A short discussion took place on the government’s recent announcement relating to Employer contributions to National Insurance and whether this had been factored in.

  RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Finance and Director of Education, Work and Skills

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the 2025/26 DSG allocation. 

The report further provides Schools’ Forum members with an update on the construction of the 2025/26 totals schools’ budget, and details of the final early years and schools block budgets

Schools’ Forum members are asked to:

a)    Note the report;

b)   Provide any comments on the final budget plans outlined in section 3 / Appendices 1-2 for early years block;

c)    Approve the updated budget allocations for the central school services block as per section 4 / Appendix 3;

d)   Provide any comments on the final schools’ block local funding formula model as per section 5 and the overview table at section 5.9 / Appendix 4

e)    Approve the adjusted central reserve budget for 2024/25 at £1.909m as per section 5.5

f)     Note the final de-delegated budget allocations at section 5.7 which are aligned to the decisions confirmed at the last meeting;

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

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

A representative of the Director of Finance and Director of Education, Work and Skills submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools’ Forum members with details of the 2025/26 DSG allocation.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         The Forum was advised that further discussions with Early Years providers were due to take place in order that the wider early years sector could be more engaged in budget setting.

·         Members of the Forum requested further detail and clarification in relation to Section 5 of the report ‘Schools Block’.

·         In response to a Forum Member question, the Forum was advised that Stockport was in the 40 worst funded authorities in the country.

RESOLVED –

(i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That the updated budget allocations for the central school services block as per section 4/Appendix 3 be approved.

(iii) That the adjusted central reserve budget for 2024/25 at £1.909m as per section 5.5 be approved.

(iv) That the final de-delegated budget allocations at section 5.7 which are aligned to the decisions confirmed at the last meeting be approved.

To consider a report of the Director of Finance and Director of Education, Work and Skills.

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the final 2025/26 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, present any questions and offer any further comments.

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

A representative of the Director of Finance and Director of Education, Work and Skills submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools’ Forum members with details of the final 2025/26 Local Authority (LA) annual pro-forma toolkit (APT) return to be submitted to the Department for Education (DfE).

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         The Forum was advised that indicative figures would be sent out on Friday 17 January 2025 so that schools could start their budget setting processes.

·         In relation to schools with excessive balances, it was acknowledged that it was a difficult balancing act, but Members of the Forum felt that the situation needed to be fair and equitable.

·         It was hoped that there would be a good response to the consultation and members of the Forum were asked to encourage colleagues to respond.

·         Some Members of the Forum felt that further discussion needed to be held around where monies were distributed in relation to academy schools and the high needs block.

·         It was noted that the risks and challenges faced by academies were different from maintained schools.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a verbal presentation of the Strategic Lead for SEND, Inclusion and Access and Director of Education, Work and Skills.

The presentation provides an update on the DSG review and DBV Program Update.

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

Officer contact Geraldine Gerrard, 0161 474 3837 or email: Geraldine.gerrard@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Lead for SEND, Inclusion and Access and Director of Education, Work and Skills gave a verbal presentation which gave Schools’ Forum members an update on the DSG review and DBV Program Update.

The following comments were made/issues raised:

·         It was reported that the letter sent by Councillor Wendy Meikle to the Secretary of State which set out Stockport Council’s financial position and to request further discussion, had been shared with the relevant Members of Parliament.

·         A short discussion took place with regards to Education, Health and Care Plans and the length of time taken to process these and the reasons for the delays that sometimes occur.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Finance and Director of Education, Work and Skills

The report provides Schools’ Forum members with details of the remaining meeting dates for 2024/25 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) Discuss and propose any amendments to the forward planner; and

d) Request any items for training/development sessions.

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

A representative of the Director of Finance and Director of Education, Work and Skills submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided Schools’ Forum members with details of the remaining meeting dates for 2024/25 academic year. The report also provided 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.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To discuss any other business.

No other business matters were discussed.