Agenda

Outstanding annual member declarations to be completed and returned.

Kate Brady, Apprenticeship & Work Placement Officer and Karen Everitt, HR Business Partner will give a verbal update on the apprenticeship levy.

Purpose.

To inform the Schools Forum of the projected revenue expenditure within the Dedicated Schools Gant for the current financial year 2016-17 as at the end of the first quarter.  This report sets out the forecast budget position for the year-end as at the 30 June 2016.

RECOMMENDED that:

The Schools Forum note the forecast year-end budget positon for the Dedicated Schools Grant as at the end 30 June 2016, together with the associated explanations contained within the report.

Purpose.

The main purpose of the report is to inform Schools Forum of the progress being made towards the implementation of changes to the school revenue funding arrangements for 2017-18 and to seek the necessary approvals at this stage.

RECOMMENDED that the Schools Forum:

a)    Endorse the principles proposed by the mainstream working group in Appendix 1 to guide and inform the development of the funding arrangements for 2017-18.

b)   Endorse, that following the confirmation of the 2017-18 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), officers will amend the funding unit values to minimise the impact of fluctuations in funding at the school level and to maintain overall affordability.  In order to provide schools with some certainty, where possible any changes will be limited to the following formula factors:

·         Basic per pupil entitlement

·         Prior attainment

·         Lump Sum

·         The percentage of the financial cap.

c)    Endorse the proposed changes to the mainstream funding formula factors, together with choices the council has made in implementing these factors locally, as set out in section 5.

d)   Agree by Phase to the de-delegation of the following budgets for central administration in 2017-18 and note the proposed rates for de-delegation (as shown at paragraph 3.41 of the consultation document), which will be finally agreed in January:

                i.        Behaviour Support - Primary Only

              ii.        Special Staff Costs (Union Duties)

             iii.        Schools Contingency Fund

             iv.        Licences

e)    Note that subject to the guidance awaited from the Department for Education (DfE) and the results of the work being undertaken by the Inclusion Commissioning Manager, that the authority is not proposing to make any changes to High Needs place numbers for Special Schools, Resources Units and Alternative Provision settings for 2017-18.

f)     Note that subject to the guidance awaited from the DfE that the authority is not proposing to make any changes to the annual rates for Element 3 Top-up funding for Resource Units and Alternative Provision settings for 2017-18.

g)   Note that as set out in paragraph 7.2, work is being undertaken by the Inclusion Commissioning Manager to review the Element 3 Top-up funding arrangements for Special Schools.

h)   Endorse the MFG exemptions submitted to the DfE by the required deadline of 30 November 2016 as set out in paragraph 7.3.

i)     Endorse the funding allocation to Redwood Park Special School as set out in paragraph 8.2.

Purpose.

The purpose of this report is to provide the Schools Forum with an initial summary and impact assessment of the proposals contained within the consultation document issued by the Department for Education (DfE) on the 11 August 2016 titled: An early years national funding formula- and changes to the way the three-and-four-year-old entitlements to childcare are funded.

RECOMMENDED that the Schools Forum:

a.    Note the DfE's proposed changes to the early years funding arrangements for three and four year olds and the potential impact of these changes, as set out within this report.

b.    Note the submission of the response to the DfE's consultation, as shown at Appendix 1.

c.    Note the areas of the existing local funding formula that are to be reviewed in response to the DfE's proposed changes; as set out in paragraph 7.16.

d.    Endorse the proposed consultation process with early years childcare providers as set out in section 11.

Purpose.

The purpose of this report is to update the Schools Forum on the progress made in implementing the Portsmouth SEND Strategy, in particular the remodelling of the specialist educational provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

RECOMMENDED that the Schools Forum:

1.    Note the progress made so far in implementing the SEND Strategy, including the remodelling of the specialist educational provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

2.    Note the investment that has been made to improve and develop the specialist educational provision in Portsmouth for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Purpose of report

To Inform Schools Forum about the current position with regard to the allocation of £2m from the Dedicated Schools Grant carry-forward to support the remodelling of both Cliffdale Primary Academy and Redwood Park Secondary School to support children with more complex needs.

RECOMMENDED It is recommended that Schools Forum:

(1)   Note the progress and programme of design for works at both Cliffdale Primary Academy and Redwood Park School

(2)   Note the phased delivery approach being taken for both of the identified projects within the £3.2m available and support any future bidding opportunity that may arise.

7 December 2016

2017

18 January

15 February

24 May

12 July