TRAFFORD BOROUGH MINUTES OF SCHOOLS FORUM 21st January 2020

DAY/DATE/TIME VENUE TUESDAY 21st JANUARY 2020 Wellacre MAIN MEETING: 2PM Clerk to Schools Forum 0161 912 2836 Christine Clarkson christine.clarkson@.gov.uk

FORUM MEMBER ATTENDEES: Maintained Primary Headteacher Representatives (9) of which attended 9 attended: Clive Searle Worthington Primary Linda Davison Holy Family RC PS Catherine Downing Stamford Park Junior Tom Johnson Seymour Park Primary Alison Kelly Moorlands Junior School Louise Owen Broomwood Primary School Sharon Hudson Bowdon CE Primary Wayne Hitchcock St Mary’s Sale D Vrlec Victoria Park Infant

Primary Academy Headteacher Representatives (2) of which 1 attended: Nicola Toop Dunham Trust

Maintained Primary Governor Representatives (3) of which 3 attended: Rex Beech Wellfield Junior Karen Smyth Urmston Primary Philippa Williamson St Michaels Primary

Maintained Secondary Headteacher Representatives (3) of which 2 attended: Nicola Doward (CHAIR) Stretford High Bev Redmond St Antony’s Catholic College

Academy Secondary Headteacher Representatives (7) of which 5 attended: Joanne Daley Rick Berry Altrincham Girls Grammar School D Taylor Mark Smallwood Sale Grammer Mel Wicks Wellacre Academy

Maintained Special School Headteacher Representative (1) of which 0 attended:

Academy Special School Headteacher Representative (1) of which 1 attended: Bev Owens Sovereign Trust

Pupil Referral Unit Headteacher Representative (1) of which 1 attended: Lynda Thompson MES & Trafford High

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Non School Members (7) of which 2 attended: Rob Matthews Narnia Day Nursery Marie Holden NEU

Total members = 34 Quorum = 14 (40%)

OBSERVERS ATTENDEES: Shazia Khan ACA Zoey Carter-Jones ACA

TMBC OFFICER ATTENDEES: Cllr K Carter Executive Member for Children Services Bev Norton Head of HR Operations Anne-Marie Steadman Senior Accountant – Childrens’ Amy Nield Finance Manager – Childrens’ Michelle Perry Senior Accountant – Childrens’ Christine Clarkson CLERK

APOLOGIES Karen Samples Director Education Standards, Quality and Performance Helen Zammit Strategic Finance Manager Judith Stott (Chair) Academy L Fazackerley Scott Caplan Unison Ainsley Abrahams Unison Graham Wright Altrincham Grammar School (Boys) Damien Cunningham Diocese of Shrewsbury Claire Fisher Cloverlea Primary Clare Gosling Wellfield Infant School Kate Worsley Blessed Thomas Holford Anita Fagan All Saints Kate Markham Well Green Stephanie Gill Altrincham Grammar School (Girls) Sally Burston Delamere Dee McKenzie Early Years PVI Riffat Wall Urmston Grammer

1. WELCOME ALL AND APOLOGIES: Apologies were received and accepted for the table above. In the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair conducted the meeting

The Vice Chair – Nicola Doward invited colleagues to introduce themselves and the sector that they represent.

2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 26th November 2019

The minutes were approved as an accurate record.

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3. MATTERS ARISING

Crucial Crew – covered on Agenda Central Service Schools Block spend – covered on Agenda SEN Protection – Amy Nield confirmed this does take account of out of borough pupils High Needs Sub Group – met – covered later in the meeting Redundancy process – Bev Norton outlined this is still being looked at. Members requested this be an agenda item at the next meeting. Clive Searle confirmed the Primary Governor representation has been agreed and welcomed Karen Smyth as the member and Phillipa Williamson as the Substitute.

4. DEDICATED SCHOOLS GRANT (DSG) UPDATE 2020/21

Amy Nield provided a DSG update to the Forum, reporting the 2020/21 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) updated for October Census data. This shows an increase of £12m compared to 2019/20 allocations made up of:

£m Schools Block 9.115 Inflationary increases plus increase in minimum funding levels for all primary and secondary school Central Schools -0.033 Services Block High Needs Block 2.555 Increased funding nationally plus higher funding floor Early Years 0.319 Increase in hourly rate by 8p Total 11.956

The Forum was asked to agree the Central Schools Services Block (CSSB) spend of £1.513m. Amy Nield confirmed that the spend on Crucial Crew was for coaches to take pupils to Mersey Valley Sports Club with 42 primary schools accessing the service last year. There was some debate around this as schools also pay towards Crucial Crew so it was unclear as to whether schools were being charged twice or being subsidised.

Finance agreed to provide details of the schools involved and Primary heads are to discuss at their next Heads meeting whether they wish to continue this subsidy.

Action: Schools Finance team to provide details of the schools for whom the LA were charged in 2018/19. Primary heads to discuss at their next heads meeting.

Forum noted the DSG for 2020/21 and agreed the CSSB budget (with the exception of Crucial Crew which will be held in contingency awaiting resolution)

5. MAINSTREAM FUNDING SUB-GROUP UPDATE

The Group had met at the end of December and again at the beginning of January. Anne-Marie Steadman outlined the discussions and proposals regarding the Growth Fund. She outlined the current criteria and schools which would be eligible for funding in 2019/20. The current projected allocation is £472k leaving an unallocated balance of £533k. Any unspent monies at year end will be ring-fenced and carried forward into 2020/21. 3

The Sub-Group had agreed to use the same method of allocation as currently with the exception of using the Minimum Funding Level (MFL) at £3,500 per pupil rather than the flat rate to allocate Growth. Anne-Marie confirmed that the 2020/21 Growth Factor allocation is £1.266m.

Infant Class Size Funding – allocation for 2019/20 is £100k from within CSSB. There currently remains £50k unallocated; any unspent monies will be ring-fenced and carried forward to 2020/21. The Sub-Group agreed the methodology to remain the same with the exception of using the MFL instead of Basic Per Pupil Entitlement rate.

Per Pupil Re-distribution Pot (PPRP) – Michelle Perry outlined this item. The purpose of this fund is to address low per pupil rates in some schools. The Group had been presented with and discussed a number of options including:  Reducing the reserves percentage for eligibility  Keeping the reserves at current rate (8%) but reducing the PPRP  Removing the fund completely

The Sub – Group considered that the MFL was addressing historic inequalities; therefore, together with the National Funding Formula (NFF) this should theoretically remove the need for this fund. They therefore agreed to adopt the model of retaining reserves percentage at 8% but reducing the amount in the PPRP Fund.

Before this was discussed at Forum, Michelle then went on to outline that the Local Authority (LA) is in the unusual position of, having adopted the NFF and running the formula, having a surplus DSG of £546k; this is one-off funding for 2020/21 only. The LA had met with the ESFA to discuss options for how this could be distributed to schools whilst complying with the Regulations. Two options had been presented to the Sub Group for consideration:  Option 2 – increase in the MFL  Option 3 – increase in both the MFL and Lump Sum

Forum members then discussed both the PPRP and ‘Surplus’ funds as they considered the impact of both on schools. There was much discussion with some Members considering that those schools benefitting from the PPRP Fund would similarly benefit from a distribution from the ‘surplus’ funds via the MFL method. Some members considered Option 3 more equitable as more schools would benefit whilst others felt option 2 would both aid those lower funded schools and reduce turbulence moving towards the NFF. One primary representative questioned whether there was a 3rd option available to distribute on a per pupil basis outside of the formula to benefit more schools. Amy Nield said this would contravene regulations and require a disapplication from the Secretary of State.

Forum members asked for clarification that option 2 would support those lower funded schools; this was confirmed to be the case

After much discussion Forum agreed the following

Per Pupil Distribution Pot (Primary Members only) – to retain the current methodology and reduce the amount in the fund by 50%. Agreed – 11 members, against 0 members

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Allocation of Surplus Funds - £546k in 2020/21 (Primary and Secondary schools only) Voting as follows. Option 2 – 13 members, option 3 – 7 members. Option 2 agreed i.e. to re-distribute via an increase in the MFL.

6. DE-DELEGATION

Amy Nield outlined the current position on spend on de-delegated items together with proposed items, amounts and rates for 2020/21. She clarified that the Behavioural Support de-delegated rate (50% per pupil and 50% Free School Meals pupils) is based on an historic decision made in 2013. A primary representative questioned whether this should be based on a per pupil rate and not free school meals as there is little correlation between free school meals and pupils accessing more of the service. There followed some debate around this.

Bev Norton (HR) outlined that the rate for Union Duties would be £4.55 per pupil a reduction of 83p from 2019/20. A Forum Member queried whether this included union support for both teaching and non-teaching unions – Bev Norton confirmed it is teaching unions only.

Forum Agreed the following de-delegation for 2020/21.

PPRP - £198,964 – previously agreed under Item 5 Behavioural Support – based on per pupil rate - £49,121. 12 members for, 0 against Licences/ Subscriptions - £105,441. 12 members for, 0 against Maternity supply cover - £363,064 – 12 members for, 0 against Trade Union Duties cover – 11 members for, 1 against Redundancy - £221 – 13 members for, 0 against

Action – HR to provide details of the number of staff being funded under the Trade Union supply agreement.

7. HIGH NEEDS SUB-GROUP

Anne-Marie Steadman presented the minutes from the High Needs Block Sub-Group held on 9th January 2020. This provided details of provisional budgets to special schools/ PRU for 2020/21 (£14.5m). A primary member asked if the £10k place funding is set nationally as it has remained the same rate over the past few years, as has the top-up rate. Anne-Marie confirmed the £10k is set nationally and there has been no increase in the top-up rate as funding to the LA has not increased over the past few years; any increase in funding is due to an increase in the numbers of pupils with SEN.

Anne-Marie then outlined the current monitoring position on the High Needs Block (HNB) for 2019/20 which is currently showing an overspend of £239k due to the need to fund additional places. A primary member asked what the 0.5% top-slice agreed in 2019/20 was – it was around £800k – so this overspend was less than the amount previously top-sliced from schools. He asked if a top-slice was required for 2020/21. Amy confirmed this is not required because of additional funding received from the DfE.

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8. EARLY YEARS UPDATE

Anne-Marie Steadman outlined the provisional Early Years DSG allocation for 2020/21 at £15.839m with £792k being centrally retained and £15.047m passported to providers. The additional 8p per hour provided by government will be fully passported to providers.

9. A.O.B

Michelle Perry asked if, to increase efficiency/ reduce paper usage, Forum members would consider using the electronic copies of papers instead of the need for paper copies to be sent out. Members rejected this and requested paper copies continue to be sent.

Members were asked if they wished to continue with the 2pm start. All were in agreement of a 2pm start.

The meeting closed at 3.20pm.

Date of the next Funding Forum meeting: 17TH March 2020 at 2pm – venue to be confirmed.

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