Venue: Castle Hill School, Offerton, Stockport
Contact: Democratic Services
No. | Item |
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Welcome and Introductions Minutes: The Chair welcomed members to the meeting of the Forum and introductions were made. |
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Apologies for Absence/Substitutions Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Dawn Strachan, David Marshall and Joanne Meredith. |
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To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2015. Minutes: The Minutes (copies of
which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 22 January 2015
were approved as a correct record, subject to the following
amendment:- |
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Matters Arising To discuss any matters arising. Minutes: Election/Membership Update (Minute number 6 of 22 January 2015 meeting)
With regard to minute number 6 from the meeting held on 22 January 2015 regarding Election/Membership Update, it was confirmed that Jon Roper, Headteacher of All Saints CE Primary School had been nominated as the new Schools Forum representative.
2015/16 Schools Funding (Minute 9 of 22 January 2015 meeting)
With regard to minute number 9 from the meeting held on 22 January 2015 regarding the detail of the schools supported in 2014/15 under the ICS initiative, it was confirmed that the schools were Greave Primary School, Great Moor Infant School and St Mary’s RC Primary School. |
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To consider a report
of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services. Minutes: A representative of
the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted
a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Forum
with an executive summary of the business matters included on the
main agenda. |
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2015/16 SCHOOLS BUDGET PDF 125 KB To consider a report
of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services. Minutes: A representative of
the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted
a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing detail on
the final construction of the 2015/16 schools budget financed by
the dedicated schools grant (DSG) and an update/summary of other
key school funding streams and financial matters.
It was further reported that to account for all identified cost pressures having realised savings and/or efficiencies available in other HN areas, the LA had applied a total of £0.824m from current unallocated DSG reserves to set a balanced budget.
The following comments
were made/issues raised:- · The difference between the Central Reserve held within the High Needs block to deal with basic need of school places/ICS initiative and secondary sector falling numbers on roll and the general Dedicated Schools Grant reserve. · Top up funding was used for special schools and units, high needs pupils in mainstream schools and post-16 providers.
RESOLVED – That the report be noted.
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LA SCHOOLS FORMULA APT RETURN 2015/16 PDF 61 KB To consider a report
of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services. Additional documents: Minutes:
A representative of the Corporate Director for
Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which
had been circulated) providing detail on the mandatory annual
pro-forma toolkit (APT) the Local Authority was required to submit
to the DfE in relation to all aspects
of the local schools funding formula adopted for 2015/16 as
approved by the Council Executive. · Primary sector – Increase the basic entitlement funding factor level to 73% of the overall envelope of funding and reduce all other funding factors on a prorate basis (except lump sum) in line with the approved proposal following formal consultation undertaken in the autumn term with all governing bodies. · Secondary sector – structure of the formula remained unchanged. · Both sectors - a reduction had been applied to any factors where the total cohort of pupils eligible had increased significantly from the 2014/15 baseline (i.e. FSM, SEN, LAC, etc.), thus ensuring the overall costs of the formula model did not increase above the cash level allocated by DfE at 0%. · No new/additional formula factors were to be used in 2015/16; · Capping applied to gaining schools based on a 0% level, with the scaling of 65.1% applied to meet the total cost of applying MFG at -1.5% per pupil; · Planned basic need pupil place growth funding (including infant class size compliance) as per local criteria agreed; · High needs additional in-year funding as per local criteria agreed; and
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Unplanned growth funding to continue to be allocated
via the locally agreed 3% threshold level and resources deployed
from de-delegated funds.
The final APT return was submitted to DfE prior to the deadline in January 2015 on the
basis it was still subject to ratification from the Council Meeting
in February 2015, and DfE were informed
when it had been approved. |
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SCHOOLS BUDGET LANDSCAPE/REVIEW PDF 56 KB To consider a report
of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services. Minutes: A representative of
the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted
a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing the
opportunity for Schools Forum members to discuss the Schools Budget
landscape and Local Authority plan to undertake a review of all
activities within the Schools Budget financed predominantly by the
dedicated schools grant (DSG).
Nursery – Cathy Larkin Primary - Helen Hilton Secondary – Ian Irwin Special – John Law (Headteacher at Castle Hill) Academy – Colin Short PRUs – Janice Cahill Resourced Provisions
– Sue Challiner |
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DFE SEN CONSULTATION / CALL FOR EVIDENCE PDF 88 KB To consider a report
of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services. Minutes: A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) outlining information relating to the joint LA/Schools Forum response submitted to the consultation launched by the DfE around Special Educational Needs funding provided to local authorities via the notional high needs block and the factors and issues to be considered before creating a new national funding method to allocate such funds.
It was reported that a
number of private children’s homes were homing out of borough
children and the funding to address this did not flow in real time
and that this could be included in the response to future
consultation. |
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SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS & TRAINING PDF 65 KB
To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate and
Support Services. Additional documents: Minutes: A representative of the Corporate Director for Corporate and Support Services submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating members with details of the scheduled meetings for the 2014/15 academic year and the proposed forward planner of Schools Forum business.
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Any Other Business Minutes: There was no other business. |
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Date of Next Meeting Minutes: RESOLVED – That the next meeting of the Schools Forum be held on Thursday 21 May 2015 at Castle Hill High School, The Fairway, Offerton with an optional question and answer session on reports to be considered to be held prior to the commencement of the meeting at 3.45pm.
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