Agenda

Purpose

The purpose of this report is to inform the Schools Forum of the following:

a) Transfer of AMS to Housing & Property Services

b) Delivery of 2013 Capital Projects

c) Major Emergency Repairs & Maintenance (CERA) funding update

d) AMP Programme for 2013/14

e) Salix funding for Energy Projects

f) Radon testing in schools

g) Property database update

Recommendation

RECOMMENDED that the Schools Forum note the content of this report.

Purpose of report

The purpose of this report is to inform and update the Schools Forum regarding the levels and arrangements for ‘Pupil Premium’ and ‘Year 7 Literacy and Numeracy Catch-Up Premium’ in 2013/14

Recommendations

RECOMMENDED that the Schools Forum note this report.

Purpose

This report outlines the proposed arrangements for the use of the new funding

stream for 2 year olds, contained within the Dedicated Schools Grant, to support the 2 year old programme.

Recommendations

RECOMMENDED that the Schools Forum note the new funding streams and agree proposed arrangements including:

·         Continued place funding at £4.85 per hour, for a maximum of 15 hours a week for 38 weeks

·         The proposed use of trajectory funding as set out in paragraph 5.2.

Purpose

1. Under ‘The School and Early Years Finance (England) Regulations 2012, the local authority must not later than 15th March 2013:

a. Make an initial determination of their schools budget; and

b. Give notice of that determination to the governing bodies of the schools they maintain.

2. The Department for Education (DfE) also required local authorities to submit their school funding pro-forma to them by the 22nd January 2012.

3. The purpose of this report is therefore to

a. provide Members with details of the Dedicated Schools Grant for 2013/14 announced by the on 19th December; and

b. inform Schools Forum of the initial determination of the schools budget for 2013/14 and seek their agreement to this and the other appropriate approvals required.

Recommendations

RECOMMENDED that the schools forum:

a.  Note the estimated Dedicated Schools Grant funding available for 2013/14 of £129.791m (Including Academy funding).

b.  Agree that any carry-forward balances from 2012-13 be used to assist with the continued introduction of the funding reform changes and fund any potential financial pressures arising during 2013-14.

c.  Acknowledge the new responsibilities and potential budget pressures for 2013-14 in paragraphs 15 to 21.

d.  Agree the schools budget as set out in Appendix 1, including the central expenditure budget.

e.  Endorse the school funding pro-forma at appendix 2 (as submitted to DfE on the 22nd January). *

f.    Agree that there will be will be no significant changes to the formula or rates used to fund early years provision for three and four year olds in maintained nursery schools, nursery classes in maintained schools and early years providers for 2013-14. Noting the adjustment to the lump sum. *

g.  Agree the proposed place provision for the Special Schools, Resourced Units and Alternative Provision included in the table at paragraph 37.

h.  Endorse the indicative top-up rates, included within the report for the Special Schools, Resourced Units and Alternative Provision in the tables at paragraph 27, and agree that following the internal moderation process, officers can finalise the top-up rates and circulate these to Schools Forum Members and Schools.

i.    Agree a one-off funding allocation of £220,000 in 2013-14 for Hospital Tuition, with a review of these arrangements during the year to ensure future sustainability.

j.    Note the composition of the Notional SEN Budget set out at paragraph 38.

* For these items only School Members (including early year’s providers) are permitted to vote

Purpose

This paper, Ensuring there are Sufficient Primary School Places 2013-2016, sets out the background to the acute shortage in school places in the primary sector in Portsmouth as a result of the growing child population, and the plans that are recommended to address the shortfall.

Due to the fact the forecasts show that pupil numbers will remain high for the foreseeable future, temporary accommodation is not regarded as an appropriate or sustainable solution. The majority of the proposals are therefore seeking a permanent increase in pupil places. This is largely being achieved by making use of existing space in schools with some limited new build.

Recommendation

RECOMMENDED that the Schools Forum endorses the need to expand Primary School places and notes the investment of circa £5M that the Council will make over the next three years to address the shortfall.

Purpose

The purpose of this report is to provide the Schools Forum with an update of the Council’s Schools Capital Modernisation Programme 2013/14 and to determine the methodology that should be used to secure a contribution from schools that are included in the programme. This year’s capital programme which will address urgent condition issues is due to be approved by Members on 12 February 2013 and it is expected that schools receiving capital funding will contribute to the majority of approved projects.

A summary of the condition projects is set out in Appendix 1.

Recommendation

RECOMMENDED that Schools Forum:

·         Endorse the Council’s £1.8m Schools Modernisation Capital Programme 2013/14

·         Approve Option 1 for calculating a school’s contribution to a capital scheme, as set out in section 4 of the report