Agenda and minutes

Apologies have been received from Keith Williams, Sheila Clarke and Wayne Chretien

Apologies were received from:

Keith Williams (Academy)

Tim Woodford (Academy)

John McKernan (Academy)

Wayne Chretien (Edd Shipton substituting)

Daren Jackson (Governor)

Katrina Karwacinski (Early Years PVI Sector)

Emma Allen (as substitute for Geoff Wroe)

Sheila Clarke (Governor)

The notes are attached at Appendix A.

The minutes of the meeting of the Forum held on 23 April 2015 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Item 95 refers - Section 251 Budget Statement 2015-16

Termination of employment costs – this was an historic arrangement which appears as underspent in the last financial year.  DA advised that it was unlikely that a budget would be required in future years.

Item 96 refers - 2015-16 Funding Formula Comparative Data

It was noted that work to address the funding ratio between the primary and secondary sectors of 1:1.36 (compared to the national average of 1:1.28) was on hold as awaiting the outcome of the new funding regulations.  An update will be provided to the Forum at the September meeting.

All other matters arising were agenda items.

(i)         To note the resignation of Tracey Walker as governor representative of primary schools.

(ii)        To note the appointment of the following governor representatives;

Primary:  Sheila Clarke, Bernard Gilley and Daren Jackson

Special:   Wayne Chretien

(iii)       To note the vacancies for governor representatives of secondary maintained schools and academies and of the pupil referral service.

(iv)       To consider representation from the 7th primary cluster group.

(i)       To note the resignation of Tracey Walker as governor representative of primary schools.

(ii)      To note the appointment of the following governor representatives:

Primary: Sheila Clarke, Bernard Gilley and Daren Jackson

Special: Wayne Chretien.

(iii)      To note the vacancies for governor representatives of secondary           maintained schools and academies and of the pupil referral service.

(iv)     To consider representation from the 7th primary cluster group.  The forum agreed unanimously to re-visit this at the November meeting.

(v)      To note that Malcolm Drakes had replaced Angela Winch as representative from primary cluster F.  Malcolm was welcomed to his first meeting.

Appendix B refers

The Forum received and noted the report on the use of pupil growth fund in 2014-15 (Appendix B).  The Forum was asked to note the following:

(i)       the underspend of £337k formed part of the overall DSG underspend carried forward to 2015-16 use of which was to be discussed in an item later in the agenda

(ii)      in future years the commitment for unfilled bulge classes from previous years would reduce as classes were filled.

Appendix C refers

The Forum received and noted the report on the use of falling rolls fund in 2014-15 for the two schools graded as good or outstanding only (Appendix C).

Appendix D refers

The Forum received and discussed the report on the use of 2014-15 Schools Partnership and Schools Causing Concern DSG budget (Appendix D).  The summary of school partnerships included those funded from the Schools Partnership budget, those funded from other sources (e.g. the Aspire project which was funded from HSIS budgets) and those funded from the National College for Teaching and Leadership following bids from Havering’s two teaching schools, Hall Mead and Engayne.  Simon London (Head Teacher of Hall Mead) queried why the support provided through his school following direct bids to NCTL were included as these were independent from the LA.  The monitoring of schools and the projected outcomes was discussed and the Forum agreed that these issues should be “more joined up”.  The Forum noted that the funding allocated to schools in partnerships was now on the basis of costed support rather than the previous “flat fee” allocation of £20,000 between the two schools.    

To consider the options for allocation of the balance from the 2014-15 centrally held DSG.  Appendix E refers.

The Forum was asked to consider the options for allocation of the balance of £1.665 million from the 2014-15 centrally held DSG (Appendix E).  The Forum agreed to the proposal for allocation of a one-off carry forward for  the following items:

Roll forward or underspends from de-delegated budgets       £121k

Support to schools in financial difficulty                                 £109k

Trade Union Facility Time                                                        £5k

Maternity Insurance                                                                 £7k

Retention of budget for recoupment claims from other LAs    £200k

Vulnerable 2 Year Olds Project (agreed at last meeting)        £200k

Additional Resourced Provision Pilot                                     £300k

Business Rates Adjustment                                                 £100k

One Year Increase to Falling Rolls Fund                                 £54k

Distribution to schools                                                          £465k

Further information is required before considering the following:

SEND Reforms (roll forward of budget agreed last year)        £125k

Central initiatives to support Vulnerable Children                   £100k

It was agreed to hold back until 2016-17 the £465k distribution to schools as this complied with DFE guidance and would also provide a contingency to help fund floors and ceiling from an expected national funding formula.

To note the allocation of funding from the High Needs Block in 2015-16. Appendix F refers.

The Forum received and noted the report on the allocation of funding from the High Needs Block in 2015-16 (Appendix F).  The total funding was £18.4 million after academy recoupment which funded special schools, top fund funding to mainstream schools and academies above 12 hours of support, special units and additional resourced provision, placements in non maintained and independent provision, all post 16 SEN provision in schools, colleges and independent specialist provision, the pupil referral service and other alternative provision and central expenditure within the Children’s Adults and Disability Team.  DA pointed out that the funding was one of the lowest in London and the budget was under considerable pressure from increasing costs.

To consider a revision to the criteria for financial support to schools with increased pupil numbers in-year reflecting additional needs.  Appendix G refers.

The Forum was asked to consider a revision to the criteria for financial support to schools with in-year increases in pupil numbers to reflect additional needs (Appendix G).  A further report was tabled for consideration which contained various options for allocating the funding through existing formula factors, the Forum was advised that EAL numbers were not included due to additional support already being available when large numbers of EAL students were admitted into schools at the same time.    The Forum agreed to proposal 5 which would provide a budget of £95,000 (funded from the pupil growth fund) based on the rates used for Pupil Premium.

To note progress on the consultation with schools.  Appendices H, H1, H2 refers.

The Forum was asked to note the progress on the consultation with schools (Appendices H, H1, and H2).  Denny Grant (DG) introduced himself and explained his background before coming to LBH 6 months ago.  DG presented his report and explained the shortfall in Havering of ASD and SEBD provision and that the LA was looking for schools to agree to additional resourced provision so that pupils could be placed locally rather than expensive out of borough provision.  Part of the strategy was for “ASD friendly schools” and “behaviour confident schools” to enable further local provision to be available in LBH schools.  The Forum asked for clarification on the set-up costs which was explained and £300k had been requested from the DSG underspend to allocate to the schools until the additional places commissioned became funded through the High Needs Block as with existing ARPs.  This funding included both ASD provision and SEBD.  The Chair thanked DG for his presentation and recommend that DG meet with school clusters as this would capture several schools in one session, thereby disseminating information more speedily.  The Forum agreed unanimously to endorse and approve the proposal. 

To note the current position on academies’ buy in to the pooled arrangements for trade union facility time and to reconvene the Trade Union Facility Time Working Group.  To be reported at the meeting.

The Forum was asked to note the current position on academies’ buying into the pooled arrangements for trade union facility time and to reconvene the Trade Union Facility Time Working Group.   Keith Williams and Simon London will represent secondary schools, Nigel Emes and Chris Hobson will represent primary schools.

To agree meeting dates for the academic year 2015-16.

All meetings to be held at CEME at 8.30am.

Meeting to be held at CEME at 8.30am on:

          24 September, 22 October and 10 December 2015

          21 January, 17 March, 28 April and 23 June 2016

There was no other business.