Agenda and minutes

Apologies have been received from Maria Thompson and Geoff Wroe.

Apologies were received for the absence of Geoff Wroe (Special Schools), Bill Edgar (Secondary), Julian Dutnall (Secondary Academy), Maria Thompson (14-19 Partnership), Katrina Karwacinski (Early Years PVI Sector) and David Thomas (Unison). 

The Chairman welcomed David Denchfield to his first meeting of the Funding Forum as representative of Primary Cluster E, to Jennifer Kingaby who was substituting for David Thomas as the UNISON representative and to Chris Vaughan the School Business Manager from Campion School who was attending as an observer.

The notes are attached at Appendix A

The Forum considered and agreed the notes of the meeting held on 12 September 2013.

The DFE regulations stated that Local Authorities may hold a falling roll fund but only for ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ schools.  The Schools Funding Forum had previously agreed to hold a budget for schools in financial difficulties that would allow them to consider applications for support from schools that were not ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’.

To receive benchmarking data produced by the DFE on planned Children’s Services expenditure for 2013-14.  Comparisons have been made to other London Boroughs as set out in the tables attached at Appendix B.

It was noted that in comparison to other London boroughs Havering was one of the lowest funded. However, the Forum was reassured that although generally towards the lower end of per pupil rankings, the financial decisions made in the allocation of resources were not out of line with other authorities.  Government cuts in spending had effected reductions in core spending and also the transfer of funding to academies. Members were asked to note that further cuts to Council budgets were planned in May 2014 although it was not yet known what the impact would be on Children’s Services and Education.   From DSG funding, Havering remained one of the highest delegators to schools.  Because of changing demographics in Havering the authority was gathering data in order to challenge government levels of funding.

DFE revisions to the Statutory Guidance on Early Education and Childcare has required the LA to make some changes to the Quality Supplement of the Early Years Single Funding Formula.

The Schools Funding Forum is asked to consider the proposals as attached at Appendix C and the recommendations of the Early Years reference group.

The Forum was asked to consider the report provided by The Early Years Providers Reference Group (EYPRG) and to note Model G contained in the table of Appendix C. 

The report contained the proposed revisions to the Early Years Single Funding Formula following new statutory guidance to Local Authorities on early education and childcare. Local Authorities must have regard to this Statutory Guidance when seeking to discharge their duties to provide the free Early Education Entitlement and should not depart from it unless they have good reason to do so.

The recommendations from EYPRG for consideration by the Schools Funding Forum were as follows:

·          Revise the Early Years Single Funding Formula for the current financial year to amend the Quality Supplements to reflect Ofsted Inspection judgements as follows – Outstanding £0.33 per hour per child; Good £0.17 per hour per child; Satisfactory/Requires Improvement £0.03 per hour per child;

·         Implement a Transition Arrangement whereby no setting losses funding in the current financial year;

·          Agree no Quality Supplement Funding for settings with a Satisfactory/Requires Improvement Ofsted Inspection judgement with effect from the 2014/15 financial year;

·           Increase the Quality Supplements for an Outstanding Ofsted Inspection judgement to £0.39 and for a Good Ofsted Inspection judgement to £0.29, with effect from the 2014/15 financial year.

Members of the Forum unanimously agreed to accept the recommendations of the EYPRG.

EAL and Attendance and Behaviour Service

At the last meeting it was agreed to seek the views of head teachers on the de-delegation of EAL and Attendance and Behaviour for 2014-15.  Responses are attached at Appendix D.

The Schools Funding Forum is requested to consider the de-delegation of EAL and Attendance and Behaviour services.

Trade Union Facility Time

The DFE launched a review of trade union facility time which addresses issues such as the amount of public money spent on facility time, trained teachers carrying out trade union activities and accountability.  The results of the review may impact on the arrangements for 2014-15. 

The Funding Forum is asked to consider what additional information is required on this issue.  A summary of Havering’s funding is attached at Appendix E.

EAL and Attendance and Behaviour Service

Members were referred to Appendix D which contained the letter and attached papers sent to all primary school head teachers on 2 October 2013 regarding the consultation on de-delegation of the budgets for Attendance and Behaviour Support and the EAL services for 2014-2015. 

When asked about the de-delegation of the budget for Attendance and Behavioural Support, 23 schools in the Primary Sector agreed and 4 disagreed which equated to 85%. On the matter of EAL Service, 24 Primary Schools agreed and 3 disagreed equating to 89%.  The number of schools to respond was 49%.

Only representatives of the maintained primary schools were asked to vote on the matter which was unanimously carried.

In relation to secondary schools, the letter sent to schools had stated that although de-delegation had not been agreed in the current year, a decision was required for 2014-15, In the absence of Bill Edgar, the sole head teacher representative from maintained secondary schools, it was agreed that this matter would be discussed outside the meeting. 

Trade Union Facility Time

The DFE had launched a review of public money spent on trade union facility time and raised issues around accountability and the level of union activities funded by subscription only and not the public purse. Officers were of the view that it was likely that the decision would impact on 2014-2015 expenditure. The outcome of the review was awaited. 

Members were referred to Appendix E which provided a breakdown of the trade unions (teaching and non-teaching) membership, unit costs, additional days and the amount spent on for facility time as a percentage of the total pay bill compared to the private sector.  The total estimated cost of facility time in Havering was £200k.

All teacher trade union representatives had provided membership figures and current allocations of facility time were remodelled on that basis, changing the apportionment and reducing unit costs.

The Chairman stated that it had been useful to see the breakdown but no decision could be made at the meeting.  It was agreed that the matter be deferred to the December meeting pending further guidance from the DFE, all information had been received and discussions with head teachers and trade union representatives.

To approve the provisional 2014-15 funding formula for submission to the DFE by 31^st October.  Paper to follow.

The Forum were asked to approve the provisional 2014-15 funding formula for submission to the DFE by 31 October 2013. 

Members were advised that there would not be sufficient monies to fund schools at current levels. Officers summarised changes to funding that had already been agreed at previous meetings as well as the changes introduced by the DFE.  Officers stated that there would still be a £1.1 million shortfall for 2014-15 and had carried out an exercise in drafting formula values based on October 2012 data and would update the Forum upon receipt of October 2013 data.

LA modelling included some further changes since the agreement of formula changes at previous meetings.  These were as follows:

Reinstate the primary lump sum to £150k (from £100k as previously agreed). This would protect Havering’s smaller primary schools from further loss and also release some funding as less was needed to fund the Minimum Funding Guarantee;

Change the values in IDAC_2 and IDACI_3 for primary and secondary schools respectively to match those in the other sector;

Reduce the secondary school free school meal factor and transfer funding into KS3 and KS4 AWPU.  This provided a more even spread across secondary schools of funding and brought the value closer to that used for primary schools.

To meet the shortfall in funding, modelling was presented with recommendations to reduce the values of formula factors by 1% and to apply a 0% gains cap.  No school would therefore receive additional funding per pupil if calculated by the formula and all reductions would be held at -1.5%  per pupil.  The impact on schools of these changes would be as follows:

In capping schools at 0% and reducing all funding factors by 1% would force some schools into MFG.  Schools already protected would not lose more than 1.5%.  Officers advised that the formula did not work well for smaller schools. It was noted that the DFE would not allow a negative cap.

There were large cash differences between schools in the secondary sector and there were concerns about the size of loss.  A transfer in funding from the free school meals factor to KS3 and KS4 was agreed to spread the funding between schools more evenly.

The Chairman remarked that officers had carried out a lot of work and at the present time, could not see any other option but stated that the loss should not be any more that 1.5%.

Officers advised that at this stage the proposals were based on draft data and draft values but they had tried to “set the scene” with minimum turbulence.  Once the data had been received, values could be applied and any additional funding could be added back.

Forum members were advised that in 2015-16 the National Funding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 83.

To consider the impact of the Government decision to provide free school meals to all Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children and to disadvantaged students in Further Education Colleges and Sixth Form Colleges from September 2014.

The Forum agreed to defer this item to the meeting in December.

To receive a presentation on LA School Improvement Inspections including the role of the Schools Funding Forum.

Members of the Forum received a presentation from Mary Pattinson on the new OFSTED Education Inspection Functions that came into effect as of 1 June 2013, and on the document outlining Effectiveness Descriptors in the arrangements for supporting school improvement.

Members were asked to note that the aim of the inspection is to hold Authorities to account for the outcomes of all children and young people aged 0 - 19 years including up to 25 years for people with special educational needs or learning disabilities.  OFSTED will consider outcomes in Local Authority maintained schools, academies including free schools and UTCs, local colleges, PRUs and AP providers.

The Local Authority statutory duties were as follows:-

·                to work with education partners including all head teachers  and governors

·                to promote prevention, early intervention, and narrow the gaps, and ensure the wider wellbeing of children and young people

·                to promote the interests of children, young people, parents and families and to stimulate and support a diversity of school, early years and 16-19 provision

·                to promote educational excellence for all children and young people including tackling  underperformance

The inspection process would involve meetings with Local Authority officers including the Chief Executive and the Director of Children’s Services.  There would be further meetings with the Lead Member as well as with Overview and Scrutiny members.  OFSTED would also meet with Head Teachers and Governors and would interview representatives from other groups such the Children’s Trust, Schools Funding Forum, Local Safeguarding Children’s Board and the Education Strategic Partnership. In addition, OFSTED would talk to representatives in all school categories to determine what Local Authority support they receive.

The Authority would be judged on the following:-

·                The provision of effective and strategic leadership to education providers

·                The clarity and transparency of policy

·                The knowledge of education providers, their performance and practice.

·                Effective identification of underperforming providers and intervention 

·                Improving education providers and narrowing geographical and pupil performance gaps.

Other areas that would be inspected are promotion of support between schools, effective leadership and strategies, support and challenge to school governing bodies and how the use of funds effect improvements in areas of greatest need.  There would be a written report that would be published resulting in the Authority being judged effective or not effective.

Members were advised that OFSTED would only inspect where concerns about performance had been raised or where data had signalled possible problems.  The Local Authority would be provided with 5 days’ notice prior to the inspection commencing.

Members were informed that the Authority’s relevant processes and documentation were currently being reviewed including a data dashboard for all education providers to support early intervention.  The Local Authority would also be visiting all providers.  

The Forum noted the presentation and that there would be further updates.

The next meetings have been arranged as follows:

All meetings to be held at CEME at 8.30 a.m.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on 5 December 2013 and that members would be notified of the venue and time in due course.