Agenda item
Use of centrally retained Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) in 2015/2016
The report outlines how the centrally retained DSG has been used in 2015/16 and identifies requirements for centrally retained High Needs Block for 2016/2017. This does not include the contracts budget due to the review of some of these contracts. This was reported in January 2016, and a verbal update will be provided on progress.
Minutes:
The Forum received a report which outlined how the centrally retained DSG had been used in 2015/16 and identified required use of centrally retained High Needs Block for 2016/17. The Assistant Director, School Improvement highlighted the changes between the 2015/16 budget and the 2016/17 expected spend.
|
Para. |
Area |
Changes
|
|
2 - 5 |
Early Years SEND Advisory Teacher |
Increase in budget to £200k in 2016/17, following the recruitment of a second full time post holder.
|
|
6 – 7 |
Support for high needs 3 and 4 year olds in early years settings |
Increase in budget to £300k in 2016/17, and a review of the spending by Early Years supporting inclusion, thus enabling a streamlining of the processes into 1.
|
|
8 |
Therapies |
Reduce the budget to £50k for 2016/17, following a review of SALT services which should result in a similar approach to reviewing OT and Physio contracts.
|
|
9 – 12 |
Statements / EHC plans |
The budget to be £500k for 2016/17 and monies transferred from the High Needs Contingency along with any additional top ups due to demand.
|
|
14 |
Special School Outreach and High Cost pupils |
Increase in budget to £600k in 2016/17 due to the complex needs of some of the pupils being maintained in our special schools.
|
|
16 |
Additional Pupil Support |
Increase in budget to £270k in 2016/17 due to an increase in pupils requiring this support.
|
|
17 - 19 |
High Needs Post 16 |
Likely to have an increase in budget due to provision lasting until 25.
|
|
21 – 23 |
Virtual School management and delivery |
Increase in budget to £283,210 in 2016/17 following a restructure and recruitment of an additional Personal Advisor to help with support for transitioning students.
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|
25 – 27 |
DSG contributions to Central Overheads |
A carry forward of £484,852 in High Needs Block Contingency to be transferred to SEND Capital to support increasing demand for places in specialist SEND provision. |
The Forum considered the information relating to the current processes being used to identify and support children in Early Years and ensuring that there was consistency and that none are slipping through the gaps when transferring to schools. The Forum were concerned that there were two teams calling on different pots of monies for the same purpose. It was agreed that having a central area for compiling the information and ensuring consistency and that the correct support is delivered as a priority. The Forum supported the review of current processes within the Early Years Block and the High Needs Block and given the changes in the ring-fencing of blocks agreed it was wise to move all inclusion related funding at this point to the High Needs Block (£128k budget provision).
The Technical Sub group were thanked for their time in reviewing the budget spends and projections for the coming year.
RESOLVED
1. That how the centrally retained High Needs Block DSG has been used in 2015/16 to support high needs provision be noted.
2. That any unallocated High Needs Block DSG is carried forward into 2016/17 and allocated to the rolling Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Capital Programme to support the delivery of SEND Vision (currently under review) and its priorities be agreed.
3. That the allocation of the High Needs Block DSG for 2016/17 be noted with amendments to figures in paragraph 28 of the report to those in the table above.
4. That any unallocated High Needs Block in 2016/17 be allocated to High Needs Contingency to be allocated following completion of review of Top Ups, Contracts and Outreach be agreed.
5. That the movement of £128k from Early Years Block to High Needs Block to support the inclusion of the Early Years and children with High Needs in Early Years settings be agreed.
All voting was unanimously in support of the proposals.
Supporting documents:
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