Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Jared Nehra, with Rob Bollen attending in his place. Apologies for lateness were received from Andrew Rees, who joined the meeting from 5pm.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14^th September 2023 were approved, and signed as a correct record.

The Head of Finance (Children, Education and Families) introduced the report on the 2024/25 provisional allocation of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and highlighted the latest figures from the DfE and the effects for Bromley. The figures were indicative at present and would be updated in December once the DfE had gone through the October census. The DSG allocation was divided into four blocks, as shown in Section 3.1 of the report.

Within the Schools Central block the grant was expected to fall by a further 2.5%, with similar decreases expected for the next 2 to 3 years until it reached the DfE’s expectation of Bromley’s Schools Central spend. Bromley were looking at ways in which to limit the spend in this area, with the DfE’s allocation based on a National average.

The grant within the Early Years Block had been estimated using current usage and rates held by the DfE. There was an announcement from the DfE on 29^th November regarding an increase in rates to £6.40 for 3-4 year-olds and £9.44 for 2 year-olds. The current report was published before the new rates were announced, but they would be factored in for January’s budget information.

Regarding the Schools Block, the Schools’ Forum heard that some increases had been seen within the Primary and Secondary units of funding. However, it should be noted that mainstream schools would have received the Mainstream Schools Additional Grant (MSAG) distributed in 2023/24, and this was included in the DfE’s allocation.

Finally, within the High Needs Block, it was highlighted by the Head of Finance (CEF) that, as with previous years, it was the area under the most pressure. More grant had been received but Bromley’s expenditure exceeds that and a deficit of £5.6m is expected for 2024/25. Bromley were looking at ways in which this could be reduced, but there were significant ongoing pressures.

Concerning the pressures within this area, The Head of Strategic Place Planning (Education, Care and Health Services) then explained to the Forum that it appeared that Bromley’s rate of new EHCPs (Education, Health and Care Plans) had slowed, but looking at the census for 2022 and 2023, numbers were roughly the same. Whilst there had been some slowing in the EHCPs, numbers were still significantly higher than pre-2020.

Appendix 1 of the report (pages 11-12) showed an indication of the allocation of Bromley’s funding, and this would change once the DfE announced funding towards the end of December, and also taking into account the DfE’s announcement on 29^th November. Appendix 2 (pages 13-16) showed provisional funding calculations, but again these figures would change in due course.

In response to a question, the Head of Finance (CEF) confirmed that budgets were not being set at present, but in January 2024 there would be more information available for a clearer picture of Bromley’s position and what the proposals were. Comparisons could then be made with previous years etc and the Schools’ Forum would be able to discuss the position  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

The Head of Finance (CEF) introduced the report on Falling Rolls Funding and Future Proposals and Forum members were informed that the DfE had produced new guidance. For the first time in 2024/25 an element of the Schools Block funding would be allocated based on falling rolls. Members heard that although Bromley has had a Falling Rolls Fund for the past few years it had not really been used. There were very strong criteria for schools to qualify and only one school had received funding in the last three years.

It was proposed that the DfE’s new criteria would be merged with Bromley’s and it was noted that the LA already closely followed the DfE guidance. If the Forum agreed to continue with the Falling Rolls Fund it would be paid in the usual way using the current criteria, with agreement required from the Schools’ Forum.

The Forum’s attention was drawn to the question of deciding whether to continue with the Falling Rolls Fund. It was confirmed that if the decision was made to discontinue then the money would instead be included within the schools’ overall funding. If it was decided to continue then the Forum would need to discuss an amount to be set aside for this purpose, probably at the January 2024 Schools’ Forum meeting. The DfE had stated that the LA wasn’t actually required to have a Falling Rolls Fund, as long as the money was used elsewhere within the Schools Block.

A Forum member commented that although it was a good idea to have the Falling Rolls Fund, it was impractical to apply due to the criteria, especially with schools unlikely to have falling numbers over a medium-term period of 3 to 5 years. In response, the Head of Finance (CEF) explained that in such cases the LA would need to look at population projections to determine if funding was required. The Fund was seen as helping schools through a ‘bump’ until demand for places increased.

The Head of Strategic Place Planning (Education, Care and Health Services) informed the Forum that within Primary, as the key area of concern, the LA had the highest pupil numbers in 2020/21. There had been a fall since and a projected fall in Primary numbers of 8% until the end of the decade. Although numbers were then projected to increase, it was hard to see whether the Falling Rolls Fund would be useful to help through a longer period of time. A suggestion was made to keep the matter under review on an annual basis, taking into account changing projections and needs.

RESOLVED: That the Falling Rolls Fund should not be maintained for 2024/25 and that the position would be reviewed on an annual basis.

Forum members noted that the report provided an update on Growth Funding with the guidance issued alongside the Falling Rolls guidance. The report was mainly for information only and no decisions were required at present.

The Growth Funding contained within the Schools Block included an amount per new primary and secondary pupil, subject to an area cost adjustment. The DfE Growth fund was an element of the overall DSG allocation, and although the funding stayed within the Schools Block it was not necessarily used just for growth, but also bulge classes.

The Head of Finance (CEF) informed members that the guidance contained within the current report did not really have an impact at present as the Growth Funding would still be received as usual, although the rates have changed. Members would be advised in January as to which schools would qualify for Growth and Bulge Class funding. The allocation of Bulge Class funding may also need to be discussed by the Schools’ Forum at the January meeting.

RESOLVED: That the guidance from the DfE on the Growth Grant Funding element of the DSG be noted.

There were no additional items to discuss.

THURSDAY 18^TH JANUARY 2024

It was noted that the next meeting of the Schools’ Forum would take place on Thursday 18^th January 2024 via MS Teams (subject to change).