Agenda item

Purpose

The purpose of this report is to inform the Cabinet Member of the initial determination of the Dedicated Schools Grant budget (including individual schools budgets) for 2022-23 and to seek the necessary approvals and endorsements required.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member:

1.    Approves the initial determination of the Schools Budget for 2022-23 as set out in Appendix 1.

2.    Approves the 2022-23 Special School, Inclusion Centre and Alternative Provision Places as set out in Appendix 2.

3.    Approves the 2022-23 Element 3 Top-up values for Special Schools, Inclusion Centres, Alternative Provision settings and Mainstream schools, as set out in Appendix 3.

4.    Approves the Early Years budget as set out in Table 1 and Appendix 1.

5.    Approves the proposal that any carry forward of balances from 2021-22 to be used to assist with the revenue costs associated with the planned increase in high needs places, the continued introduction of the funding reform changes and fund any potential financial pressures arising during 2022-23.

6.    Approves the approach to distribute the supplementary funding through agreement with special schools and alternative provision settings as set out in Section 9.

Councillor Horton commented that the timeline for consulting and then making decisions relating to the initial determination of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) was tight and complicated.  She would take account of the feedback from the Schools Forum in relation to the financial pressures being felt by the Early Years sector including the increased costs relating to fuel, the national living wage and increased national insurance payments.  She noted that she had attended the first half of the Forum's meeting on 9 February as an observer and had been briefed on the full discussion at the meeting subsequently. The supplementary paper set out proposed amendments to the recommendations.

Councillor Judith Smyth commented that she had also attended the Schools Forum meeting and had every sympathy for Early Years settings and the financial pressures they faced.  She noted that the DSG does not take account of the increased fuel bills settings will face. 

The report was then introduced by Angela Mann, Finance Manager, who informed members that at the Schools Forum asked if the authority would consider an increase of the hourly rate to Early Years providers of 1p, funded by a reduction in the centrally held growth contingency.

Councillor Horton commented that the arguments relating to rising costs and the viability of some early years settings presented by the Schools Forum were compelling, sensible and she accepted the proposed amendment.  It was however a complex matter, the authority was waiting for further information from the census and it was necessary to ensure the budget was not overspent. She had already had in principle discussions with officers about handing back some of the carry forward in the form of grants, as happened last year, when the situation clarified further. 

Councillor Smyth agreed that it was necessary to be cautious with regard to the use of the contingency, commenting that bigger school settings might be able to absorb costs more easily than smaller settings with narrow margins.  She added that early years settings were important, particularly for children who did not have a good home learning environment or who needed speech and language support.

Councillor Norton commented that he agreed with the suggested amendment, adding that it was important for children for schools to be open.  He expressed some reservations about the timing of the amendment which had been circulated 24 hours before the meeting. 

Councillor Smith enquired about the impact of long covid and Mike Stoneman, Deputy Director of Children, Families and Education, informed members that it was tooearly know and that it was being monitored.  Councillor Horton noted that she is a member of the Long Covid Working Group and will provide an update if there is any indication of increased impact on young people.  She added that the pandemic has had an impact on children, their learning outcomes and mental health and this is the subject of constant review. 

DECISIONS:

Councillor Suzy Horton, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education:

1)    Approved the initial determination of the Schools Budget for 2022- 23 as set out in Appendix 1 except the section relating to Early Years.

2)    Approved the 2022-23 Special School, Inclusion Centre and Alternative Provision Places as set out in Appendix 2.

3)    Approved the 2022-23 Element 3 Top-up values for Special Schools, Inclusion Centres, Alternative Provision settings and Mainstream schools, as set out in Appendix 3.

4)    Approved the Early Years budget as set out in the amended Table 1 and Appendix 1 to add £0.01 to the Hourly rate and reduce the contingency on 3 and 4 Year olds only following feedback received from the Schools' Forum at its meeting on 9 February 2022.

5)    Approved the proposal that any carry forward of balances from 2021-22 to be used to assist with the revenue costs associated with the planned increase in high needs places, the continued introduction of the funding reform changes and fund any potential financial pressures arising during 2022-23.

6)   Approved the approach to distribute the supplementary funding through agreement with special schools and alternative provision settings as set out in Section 9.

Councillor Smyth commented that Schools Forum representatives and settings about the important of responding to the DSG initial determination consultation could be made in future.  She also thanked officers for their work in bringing the amendment forward.

Mike Stoneman accepted that the timescales for the consultation are not convenient as they fall over the Christmas period but that the timings are determined by the DfE.  He added that if the LA had received responses to the consultation, options would have been modelled for consideration by the Schools Forum.

Councillor Horton commented that the importance of Schools Forum had been demonstrated and that it was important for her to hear their views. 

Mike Stoneman noted that David Jeapes, Head Teacher Mayfield School was standing down as Chair of the Schools Forum after many years and that David Jones, Head Teacher Craneswater Junior School would be taking over.