Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1)    Approve the Dedicated Schools Grant Income budgets for 2024/25.

2)    Approve the Primary and Secondary schools block funding formula for 2024/25.

3)    Note the Early Years Funding Formula allocation, for which a consultation with Early Years providers was launched on 22nd January 2024.

4)    Note that the indicative budget for the High Needs block is set out in the Council’s DSG Management Plan submission to the DfE and that the final 2024/25 income and expenditure budgets for the High Needs block will be dependent on the decisions taken by the DfE in relation to this DSG Management Plan submission.

5)    Should any further Council approval regarding the Schools Budget 2024/25 be required, agree to delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance, to determine under urgency provisions.

Reasons for decision

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education presented the schools budget for 2024-2025, seeking Cabinet approval after consultation with relevant stakeholders and  the Schools Forum. Proposed funding for the Dedicated Schools Grant overall was to increase by 5.1% driven by pupil numbers, but there remained a funding gap for pupils applying for or starting on the road to an EHCP.

The Cabinet Member outlined the Council's historic efforts to address funding challenges and the increasing demand for special education needs placements. Looking back, it was noted that despite initial resistance from the Schools Forum, the transfer of funds from the main schools budget block to the high needs block, pushed by the Council, had aided in balancing educational funding provisions going forward.

The Cabinet Member outlined the Government’s plans for extended free childcare offers for working parents for early years, with new entitlements for two-year-olds rolling out from April 2024. It was noted that the Council was required to set a local formula for these offers and that the proposed rates were shared with schools and were out for consultation with early years providers.

The Leader of the Council acknowledged the challenging backdrop of falling school pupil numbers and inadequate funding for special education needs. Despite this, the Leader expressed satisfaction with the Council's response to these challenges.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided to recommend that the Schools Forum reconsider the proposed funding for schools.