Issue - meetings

Report ED13024

The Sub-Committee considered a report setting out the indicative allocation for the 2013/14 Dedicated Schools Grant and outlining how this funding would be allocated and expended across the High Needs, Early Years and Schools blocks in 2013/14.  A total sum of £228,331,776 had been allocated to the Borough for 2013/14, which was an increase from the previous year due to increased pupil numbers and the inclusion of additional funding streams which had been incorporated into the Dedicated Schools Grant together with additional responsibilities.

In considering the indicative allocation for the 2013/14 Dedicated Schools Grant, the Chairman noted changes to the allocation of funding for children and young people with special educational needs that meant that additional ‘top up’ funding from the high needs block, which was based outside the schools’ budget share calculations, would only be provided for children with needs over £6k per annum.  The Assistant Director: Education confirmed that schools had expressed concern at the way the new funding allocations might impact the funding schools received for children and young people with high incidence, low level needs.  The Portfolio Holder for Education noted the importance of ensuring that children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties continued to receive the support they needed to remain within a mainstream school setting.  Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP also emphasised the need to ensure Head Teachers and Chairs of Governors understood the new funding formula.  The Assistant Director: Education confirmed that a letter had been drafted to send to Head Teachers and that information was also being provided to Governors, Parents and other stakeholders in a variety of ways.

Members considered Age Weighted Pupil Unit funding for 2013/14 and noted that funding for the Primary sector in Bromley was low compared to the median range, but that Secondary sector funding was close to the median range.  The Head of Education and Care Services Finance confirmed that the decision to use a lump sum of £180k for each school as part of the calculations supported the level of  funding received by Primary schools.  The minimum funding guarantee would also help ensure that schools did not receive a reduction in funding from the previous year, although this would not protect schools from the impact of any reduction in pupil numbers.  It was noted that a new national funding formula would be introduced from 2015/16.

RESOLVED that Members’ comments on the latest 2013/14 Dedicated Schools Grant allocations for the Education Portfolio be noted.