Agenda item

Agenda item

Minutes of the previous meeting and matters arising

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting 12 June 2017 (copy attached) and to receive an update on any matters arising from these (copy attached).

 

Minutes:

 

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the meeting of the Central Bedfordshire Schools Forum held on the 12 June 2017 be confirmed as a signed by the Chairman as a correct record subsequent to the following minor amendment:

 

CBSF/17/2 Minutes of the previous meeting and matters arising are to be amended to show that Mr P Burrett joined the meeting after the resolution.

 

 

Matters Arising/Action points

 

The Chairman guided members though the matters arising from meetings of the Schools Forum held in the 6 March, 22 March and 12 June 2017 during which the following updates were received:

 

9 January 2017

 

CBSF/16/18

Work around alternative ways to fund the Academy of Bedfordshire (ACB) is ongoing.  A update will be given at the next meeting of the Schools Forum Technical Sub-Group on the 3 October 2017.

 

CBSF/16/25

Membership of the Schools Block Technical Sub Group will be discussed under Item 4 of the agenda. Action completed.

 

CBSF/16/29

An update on the DSG funding costs for the Schools Admissions Team will be given at the November meeting of the School’s Forum.

 

CBSF/16/30

Training for members of Schools Forum will be discussed under Item 4 of the agenda. Action completed.

 

6 March 2017

 

Point 1

The f40 had been contacted to request responses to question 3 from the other local authorities.  The wording in the response from CBC had been amended from ‘unsure’ to ‘welcome clarity’. Action completed.

 

CBSF/16/46 – Growth Fund Payments and Criteria

Points 2 & 3

The guidance for the use of furniture, fixings and equipment (FF&E) and a flow chart for the Growth Fund allocation process were tabled at the meeting  Action completed.

 

Inclusion for High Needs

Points 4 & 5

Clarification was given that the Early Years Team would support children with additional needs who become 5 in the Reception year 4 to the end of Year 5 in conjunction with the School SENCo where appropriate. This information would be included in Central Essentials.

 

Statements/EHC plans

Point 6

Monitoring of the number of children on Statements/EHC Plans to be put in place and reported to Schools Forum.

 

Point 7

The figures in this report and SEND forecast do not align. The pressures and risks to the Council are to be flagged with Finance.

 

Point 8

The outcome of the work undertaken to calculate the level of risk from the forecast rise in numbers of Statements/EHC Plans would be circulated to Members of Schools Forum.

 

Special School Outreach

Points 9 & 10

Funding decisions to be evidenced (accurate costs and projections) and reported to Schools Forum on a regular basis.

 

A review of the gatekeeping and referral process for Outreach services is to be undertaken..

 

DSG contribution to Central Overheads

Points 11,12,13

The DSG contribution to Central Overheads had been flagged as a Children’s Services pressure as part of the MTFP process for 2018/19. An update on the MTFP process would be given at a future meeting of the Schools Forum.

 

ACB

Points 14 & 15

A Panel had been set up to determine the criteria for the allocation of Group 2 places at ACB and to provide advice on the application process. Action completed.

 

Letters had been sent to schools requesting participation in the contribution to places at the ACB.  The contribution from schools was not as it might be. Action completed

 

Special Schools banding

Point 16

An update on the work being undertaken to look at banding values would be given at the October meeting the High Needs Technical Sub Group.

 

CBC allocation to Special Schools

Points 17, 18, 19

Clarification had been given on whether the figures reflect the predicted increase in numbers for Central Bedfordshire, the number of empty places, a breakdown of bands funded in relation to the number of pupil for all Special Schools. Action completed.

 

Special Schools had confirmed their current number of pupils and their classification/banding in order for a comparison of the figures in this report with those in the School Organisational Plan to be undertaken. Action completed.

 

Work was ongoing to look at how the Early Years and High Needs funding risks (@£1.7m) would be met in the future.

 

Members of the Schools Forum advised that increased clarity would be welcomed about funding especially in forthcoming years.

 

Early Years Funding report

Point 20

Work around defining the Early Years SEND linked funding strands was ongoing as part of the review.  An update would be given at the January meeting of Schools Forum.

 

12 June 2017

 

Matters Arising

 

Points 1, 2, 3, 4

An update on the membership and vacancies of the Schools Forum and the training of members will be given under Item 7 of the agenda. Action completed.

 

Point 4

The two upper school representatives, Mr O Button and Miss K Hayward had raised the issue of the lack of ACB places commissioned by secondary schools at the secondary heads meeting. Action completed.

 

Point 5

An update on the review of Special Needs and Inclusion spend carried out in the Early Years as part of the bigger review of High Needs spend would be reported back to the Schools Forum at the November meeting.

 

CBSF/17/3 Action Plan 6 March 2017

Point 6

The f40 had been contacted to request responses to question 3 from the other local authorities.  The wording in the response from CBC had been amended from ‘unsure’ to ‘welcome clarity’. Action completed.

 

CBSF/17/4 Growth Fund Payments

Point 7

The proposed advertising costs for lower and primary schools had been reviewed and the outcome circulated electronically to Schools Forum members. An update would be given under Item 4 of the agenda. Action completed.

 

An update on how the modelling of the Growth Fund allocation process would be undertaken would be given under Item 4 of the agenda. Action completed

 

The revised proposals for the Growth Fund had been circulated electronically to Schools Forum members for comments and approval. An update would be given under Item 4 of the agenda. Action completed.

 

CBSF/17/7 High Needs Block – final 2017/18

Point 10

33 applications had been received for pupil admittance to schools in Central Bedfordshire under the Fair Access Protocol of which 30 were successful. Action completed.

 

Point 11

An update on the profile spend for May, June, July and August would be given under Item 14 of the agenda including an update on the effect of the higher monitoring procedures. Action completed.

 

CBSF/11/8 School Finance update

Details of those schools holding excess balances and the possible clawback process for excess funds would be discussed under Item 12 of the agenda. Action completed.

 

CBSF/17/11 Work Programme

The work programme for the Central Bedfordshire Schools Forum would be updated to include the agenda items for future meetings raised during the meeting.

 

 

Supporting documents: