To receive an update on the spend in regard to the High Needs Block (HNB) to date, potential spend pressures for 2018/19 and the 0.5% investment into the HNB for this financial year.

The Schools Forum considered a report which outlined the spend in regard to the High Needs Block (HNB), highlighted potential spend pressures for 2018/19 and provided an update on the 0.5% investment into the HNB for this financial year.

The Chairman advised that in accordance with guidance received from the DfE, the 0.5% investment into the HNB for this financial year did not require a vote from Schools Forum members and was for discussion only.

Points and comments included:

·         Paragraph 13 of the report referred to a programme of work in place to mitigate pressures outlined in the table but does not include any definitive information about the work taking place and the impact it is likely to have.

·         Paragraph 32 of the report advised the in-year (18/19) HN Block Deficit currently forecast as £1.6M rather than the £1.4m overspend previously advised. The Head of SEND explained that the biggest change in the overspend is always forecast around September. The increase from £1.4m to £1.6m was due to the number of tribunals received, an increase in the number of children remaining in post 16 provision and the receipt of HNB funding to allow the children to access to this provision.

·         The consultation included the proposal of a similar amount of funding being transferred from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block to contribute towards the likely deficit for next year.  What is this proposal based on? The Assistant Director Children’s Services Business and Supporting Services advised that work was currently taking place on a report detailing mitigations about possible savings and cost avoidance.

·         It was disappointing to see the balance remaining of 0.5% transfer from School Block to the HN Block as the advice given by the Director of Children Services at the December meeting of the Forum was that the proposed transfer of 0.5% would be ring-fenced to support early intervention and that any unspent funding would be brought back to Schools Forum to decide on reallocation and the recommendation Members of the Forum voted on.

·         The Assistant Director Children’s Services Business and Supported Services explained that projects were agreed in December 2017 with the aim of starting the work in April 2018. The High Needs team were currently undertaking intervention work totalling approximately £530,000.

·         Paragraph 35 of the report does not echo the potential risks that were raised about the Growth Fund and Early Years monies in the DSG report and Early Years report presented at the meeting today.

·         Paragraph 33 of the report states that without this agreement to use the reserves to offset the spend, Central Bedfordshire will need to find the money from other school services. Had other options been considered? The Assistant Director Children’s Services Business and Supported Services advised that there was no other option from which to fund the £1.6m overspend or whatever the sum was by the end of year.

·         The Head of SEND explained that work was taking place to look at areas of growth and where provision should be. Some young people with additional education needs should and could be educated in mainstream schools if support is in place. She added that some of the Early Years projects provided tools and support for the pressures and early intervention.

·         There appeared to be two issues; there were a lot projects on the horizon to mitigate the later costs but how could current needs be funded /mitigated.

NOTED

1.    the potential pressures against budget.

2.    the use of historic reserves and potential underspends in 2018/19 (as identified in the Recommendations for Meeting the Forecast Overspend section) to meet the potential High Needs Block overspend.

RESOLVED

3.     that the proposed actions to mitigate forecast overspends for 2018-2019 were agreed.

4.    that a verbal update as to the current state of the forecast spend on the High Needs Block be given at the November meeting of the Forum.