Schools Forum Meeting of Wednesday 30 April 2008 Bullet Point Note

(pending Schools Forum approval)

Children and Young Peoples Plan Refresh 2008/09: The Forum noted the report which set out proposals for a revised CYPP for 2008/09. The Forum would be consulted Autumn 2008 regarding the new full three year CYPP. Forum members felt it was important for the CYPP and the Schools Forum decision making process to be more joined up.

Combined Budgets incorporating the SCF Strategy and Finance Strategy : Report covered two issues (agreed by the Forum): directing efficiency savings (mainly from ‘back-office’ SEN staffing structure) to reinvest in locality working and continuing to match fund the Primary and Secondary Strategy central coordination from within DSG. Both of these will appear in the funding line ‘contribution to combined budgets’ within the Section 52 Statement.

Budget update 2008-09: Paper set out the published Section 52 budget statement. Main difference between the original report to the February Forum and published Section 52 was that final pupil numbers were higher than original estimate because LA originally understated four year olds.

Proposal for SEN and Personalised Learning Holdback: The Forum rejected the proposal to devolve funding to Area Development Groups to set up required Secondary School Behaviour and Attendance Partnerships. The Forum suggested that there should be an increased focus on preventative work in the primary school phase and that funding should be directed via thelocal Children and Young People Strategic Partnerships (CYPSPs) and LDGs rather than creating another layer of locality working groups.

Standards Fund Consultation Group Meeting of 18 April 2008:

  • The Forum received an update on the progress and long-term vision of broadband connectivity and the VLE platform which would be funded via the Harnessing Technology Grant.
  • The Forum members felt the level of unspent 2007-08 standards funds were unacceptable – particularly primary strategy £983k. The Forum agreed that the targeted funding within the primary strategy programme should be allocated to schools immediately and the remainder should be shared among all primary schools in order to maximise outcomes for pupils.
  • Finally, a message was to be given to Standards Funds budget holders that the Forum would seek to allocate to schools any unspent standards funds held at the end of 2008-09.

Raising Expectations: enabling the system to deliver: future for funding 16-18 year olds: This paper set out the funding issues relating tothe future transfer of LSC funding to LAs. Significantly, the document asks for comments on funding 14-19 education provision on the qualifications studied (key stage 4 is currently funded by pupil FTE). Forum members should email Jim MacDonald their views to be incorporated into the LA/Schools Forum response.

Review of Forum work during 2007-08/ Evaluation of Schools Forum operation: A meeting would be held Wednesday 11 June to discuss the operation and role of the Schools Forum.

Schools Forum Membership: Forum members were reminded that Early Yearsand 14-19 representatives were needed to join the Forum by September 2008.

Early Years Sub Group (verbal update): The procurement of the EY funding consultant was in hand, representatives from the EYSG would be involved in the short listing process.

Sixth Form Funding 2008/09 onwards: Forum members noted the paper which set out that schools had received an overall increase in funding of 1.5% per pupil for the academic year 2008/09.

AOB: A consultation to close Homestead school will be issued shortly and therefore Homestead has been provided with a 5/12ths budget share in 2008-09. The Forum agreed to use part of the 7/12ths Homestead budget to support Homestead pupils and staff transferring to Ramsden/Heath school.

Future Meeting Dates: (all Wednesdays) 11 June, 2 July, 22 October, 5 December, 4 February