Apologises were received from Gill Battye, Cathy Gilfillan (who was represented by Daneian Rees), Roy Pike (who was represented by Lynsey Kings) and Mike Lock (who was represented by James Evans). The Chair also welcomed Suzie Franklin, Head of Schools and Councillor Chris Lewis, Executive Lead for Schools, Families and Communities

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 27^th September 2012.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Schools’ Forum held on 27th September 2012  were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 

No matters arising from previous minutes (27/09/12).

The Head of School Commissioning presented a paper (not previously circulated) outlining the amalgamated responses, completed by schools and other consultees, to questions to the changes to the Torbay schools funding formula 2013/14. The School Forum were asked to consider the responses.

The Chair allocated 15 minutes reading time to the agenda

The Forum were advised that 16 responses had been received from primary schools; Sherwell Valley; Oldway;  Collaton St Mary;St Marychurch; Roselands; Sacred Heart; Preston, Barton, Priory, Upton St James, Queensway, Furzeham and a joint response from Watcome and Kings Ash.  1 secondary schools replied – St Cuthbert Mayne and 1 from Prospect Academy Trust.

The Forum considered and debated each of the questions and responses in turn and agreed to endorse the following recommendations to the changes to the funding as:-

Recommendation 1.  To use the EYFSP as the proxy data for SEN in primary                                          schools

After significant debate the Forum considered the guidance from the DfE alongside the responses from schools and decided to agree the proposal to use prior attainment in the formula with the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile data used for primary schools. 

Recommendation 2. Proposals to distribute the current inclusion sub formula funding 33.3%, IDAICI 33.3%, and Prior Attainment 33.3%.

Forum considered this point and agreed the recommendation.

Recommendation 3: the use of eligible FSM numbers to distribute in the formula not Ever 6 not ‘over 6 . Forum agreed the proposal to the use of eligible FSM numbers in the formula

Forum considered the case and school responses and decided that eligible FSM numbers be used in the new formula rather than ‘ever 6’

Recommendation 4: the use of IDACI banding .

Forum agreed the proposal that IDACI banding is used in 5 bands.

Recommendation 5: The allocation of funding in the current formula against non admissible factors reassigned to new criteria.

Forum agreed the reassignment of funding to the new criteria as outlined in appendix 7 of the Schools Consultation document.

Recommendation 6: That pupil mobility and LAC are not used as distribution factors within the new formula.

This was agreed by Forum

Recommendation 7: The distribution methodology for new delegated funding was discussed and agreed by Forum as outlined in appendix 14 of the schools funding consultation paper.

Recommendation 8: Distribution of SEN/statementing funding 15% pupil entitlement,15% FSM,25% IDACI and 45% Prior Attainment..

It was proposed by Roger Hughes (Chair) and seconded by Debbie Main and Maurice Codd.  Forum agreed this % split within the new formula

Recommendation 9: The Forum were asked to consider the general themes that emerged from the responses relating to schools in deprived areas losing under the proposed changes, differences in funding for statemented pupils and transitional funding.

The Forum were advised that under the proposed changes some schools serving less advantaged areas do have a reduced allocation under one element of the formula, as a result of the removal of the use of transience and replacing it with FSM,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Head of School Commissioning presented a paper (not previously circulated) outlining the responses received from Combe Pafford and the Torbay PRU relation to changes in school funding formula. The School Forum were asked to consider the responses.

The Forum discussed proposals to replace all BESD places with 1BESD place with an appropriate change in top up funding  and concerns about the ‘commissioning’ of places at schools to match the need against places purchased.

The Forum agreed that the issue of the PRU representation will be resolved in future with changes to School Forum representation

The Forum :-

i)             endorsed the general principles of special school and PRU funding

ii)            agreed the removal of BESD2 banding and changes to BESD 1 banding

iii)           noted that further meetings with special schools and requested further reports on the progress of these meetings

The Head of School Commissioning outlined a paper (previously circulated) about the changes to funding for April 2013/14 for further delegation to schools of a range of budgets that have previously been spent centrally by Children’s Service on providing services to schools. 

The Forum were advised that services were often inter-dependant and removal of one can have a knock on effect to other budget lines and services.

The Forum were advised on services which could not be delegated but schools can buy into service and services which could be de-delegated for maintained schools.

The School Forum agreed and voted on the recommendations, on behalf of maintained schools, that the following funding remains managed centrally.

The Forum also agreed to retain centrally funding for Admissions £94k and Servicing School Forum £56k

School Forum was not at quorate for voting on the capital expenditure from revenue (9k). It was agreed that this would be deferred to the next meeting

Action

i)             Remaining areas for de-delegation are the subject of a report to the December Forum meeting

The Head of School Commissioning informed the Forum that the projected DSG outturn for 2012/13 will be a breakeven or zero position.

It was noted that there were some significant overspends and underspends within the budget.

The Forum considered the overspends in the education other than at school (EOTAS) and SEN budget.

The Forum were advised that these overspends are offset by a NNDR refund and that the EOTAs budget was overspending due to an increase in provision for primary age pupils that are not educated in mainstream primary schools which is now based at the primary early intervention centre at Chestnut (formerly Lupton).  The Chestnut centre, as a PRU, will receive a delegated formula allocation from April 2013.

The Forum were advised that the pressures on the independent special schools element of the SEN budget will continue until appropriate provision within Torbay can be found.

The Forum were mindful that there will be very little flexibility within the DSG in the future.

Thursday 11 October

Thursday 6 December

Thursday 7 February 2013

Thursday 21 March 2013

The Forum agreed the following future meeting dates:

6^th December 2012

7^th February 2013

21^st March 2013