Schools' Forum 26 March 2021 Agenda Item: 2
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Schools’ Forum Date: Friday, 26 March 2021 Time: 2 – 4 pm Venue: Virtual in Microsoft Teams Members (Quorum 8): Phil Jones (Chair), Maintained Secondary Headteacher Representative, Ferndown Upper School Keith Hales (Vice Chair), Maintained Secondary Headteacher Representative, Beaminster School Pete Barrow, Maintained Primary Governor Representative, Southill Primary School Val Beardsmore, Trade Union Representative, Dorset Teachers & Support Staff Council Bruce Bonwell, Maintained Special School Governor Representative, Westfield Arts College Ross Bowell, Academy Rep, nominally Colehill First, Business Director, Wimborne Academy Trust Katie Boyes, Academy Rep, Head Teacher, Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne Academy Trust Lorraine Clark, Early Years Representative, Proprietor, Hopscotch Preschool Iain Cornell, Academy Rep, Deputy Headteacher, Thomas Hardye School, Wessex Multi-Academy Trust Sally Craig, Academy Rep, Executive Headteacher, St Mark’s Swanage, Corfe Castle Primary, Wareham St Mary, Coastal Learning Partnership Bruce Douglas, Academy Special School Rep, Headteacher, Wyvern Academy Steve Hillier, Academy Learning Centre Rep, Executive Headteacher, Sherborne Area Schools’ Trust Phil Midworth, Maintained Learning Centre Headteacher Representative, Dorchester Learning Centre Clive Pagett, Maintained Special School Representative, Headteacher, Yewstock School & College Nicky Porter, Post-16 Rep, Asst Principal, Student Experience & Progression, Kingston Maurward College Debbie Shutts, Academy Representative, School Business Manager, Dorchester Middle School Julie Simpson, Academy Representative, Headteacher, Yetminster St Andrew’s Primary School, Sherborne Area Schools’ Trust Simon Smith, Maintained Primary Headteacher Representative, Parrett & Axe Primary School Barbara Southcott, Maintained Primary Governor Representative, Cerne Abbas Primary School David Tattersall, Academy Representative, Chair of Governors, Chickerell Primary Academy Mike Taylor, Maintained Secondary Governor Representative, Lytchett Minster School Jon Webb, Academy Representative, Director of Secondary Education, Ambitions Academy Trust Karen White, Early Years Representative, Senior Childcare Manager, Children’s Services North Locality Education and Early Help Tim Williams, Maintained Primary Headteacher Representative, Hampreston CE VA First School Named Observers to the Schools’ Forum: Kieran Hasler, Maintained Learning Centre Governor, the Forum Centre Bruce Bonwell, Maintained Special School Governor, Westfield School Andrew Parry, Cabinet Member for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help, Dorset Council Giles Pugh, Dorset Church Schools, Diocese of Salisbury Executive Director for People – Children: Theresa Leavy, County Hall, Dorchester Corporate Director for Education & Learning: Mark Blackman, County Hall, Dorchester For more information about this agenda please contact the Clerk: Karen Smallwood on 01305 224172 or by email to [email protected] 1 A G E N D A 26 March 2021 2 – 4pm Formal Business Items for Approval, Consultation & Discussion Page No. 1 APOLOGIES, MEMBERSHIP ISSUES & CURRENT VACANCIES INCLUDING: To receive any apologies for absence, note current vacancies: x1 post-16 representatives of providers of post-16 SEND education 2 MINUTES, ACTION LOG & CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED 7 To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 26th February 2021, raise any matters arising, review the Action Log, and note any correspondence received. For approval 3 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST To receive any declarations of interest. 4 PUPIL GROWTH APPLICATIONS FOR 2021-22 23 To consider a report from Ed Denham, Sufficiency of School Places Manager, Education Services, Education & Learning, People - Children Directorate For approval 5 REINTRODUCTION OF DUAL REGISTERED PLACEMENTS IN LEARNING 42 CENTRES To consider a report from John Twigg, Service Manager – Education and Early Help, Chesil Locality, Education and Learning, People – Children Directorate and For consultation 6 RESOURCE PROVISION TOP UP RATES FROM APRIL 2021 To consider a report from Margaret Judd, Manager, Commissioning Central, People – Children Directorate Withdrawn following consultation with schools WITHDRAWN 7 LATEST DORSET COUNCIL CABINET & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 52 REPORTS To consider a report from Mark Blackman, Corporate Director for Education & Learning, People – Children Directorate For information 8 KEY DORSET AND NATIONAL TOPICS INCLUDING UPDATE ON LOCAL CAPACITY BUILDING To receive a verbal update from Mark Blackman, Corporate Director for Education & Learning, People – Children Directorate and Rick Perry, Education Services Manager, Education & Learning, People – Children Directorate For information 2 9 DRAFT AGENDA FOR SCHOOLS’ FORUM MEETING ON 5th JULY 2021 54 To consider the draft agenda for the next meeting drafted by the Clerk. For consultation 3 SCHOOLS’ FORUM POWERS & RESPONSIBILITIES 1. ITEMS FOR APPROVAL (the Secretary of State for Education can adjudicate where the Schools’ Forum does not agree the LA’s proposal) (a) De-delegation of funding from maintained primary and secondary school budgets for: i) contingencies (including unforeseen circumstances*, schools in financial difficulties) ii) determining the eligibility of a pupil for free school meals; iii) insurance related to schools and school premises*; iv) licence fees or subscriptions purchased on behalf of schools*; v) costs of supply cover (TU facilities); vi) support for ethnic minority pupils/underachieving groups*; vii) behaviour support services*; viii) library and museum services*; ix) School Improvement* *not currently de-delegated in Dorset (b) Central spend on: i) significant pre-16 pupil growth to support the LA’s duty for basic need place planning, including pre-opening and diseconomy of scale costs, and agreeing the qualifying criteria for schools to access the fund; ii) enabling all schools to meet the infant class size requirement including the criteria; iii) falling rolls for good or outstanding schools where surplus capacity is likely to be needed within three years to meet rising pupil numbers, and agreeing the qualifying criteria for schools to access the fund*; iv) back pay for equal pay claims*; v) places in independent schools for pupils without SEND*; vi) remission of boarding fees at maintained schools and academies*; vii) early years block provision; viii) contribution to responsibilities local authorities hold for all schools ix) contribution to responsibilities local authorities hold for maintained schools only (approval is by maintained primary, secondary, special and PRU representatives only); x) admissions; xi) servicing of Schools’ Forum. *not applicable in Dorset (c) Central spend up to the value committed in the previous financial year, and where there are no new commitments on: i) capital expenditure funded from revenue where projects were planned and decided on prior to April 2013; ii) contribution to combined budgets agreed by Schools’ Forum prior to April 2013; iii) termination of employment costs for specific individuals approved prior to April 2013; iv) prudential borrowing costs approved prior to April 2013; v) contribution to SEND transport costs agreed by Schools’ Forum prior to April 2013 (treated as part of the high needs block but requires approval as a historic commitment); vi) purposes not falling within any other paragraph of Schedule 2 to the School and Early Years Finance (England) Regulations, provided the expenditure does not amount in total to more than 0.1% of the authority’s overall Schools’ Budget. 4 (d) Authorising the movement of up to 0.5% from the Schools’ Block to other funding blocks. (e) Changes to the Scheme for Financing Schools after consultation with the head and governing body of every maintained school (approval by maintained school reps only), except in the event of government directed changes where no consultation is necessary. (f) Forum membership issues: determination of voting procedures (no role for Secretary of State). 2. ITEMS FOR CONSULTATION (the Local Authority must consult the Schools’ Forum on its proposals, but the final decision rests with the LA) (a) Annually on formula changes including redistributions of school and early years funding (non-schools’ members are excluded from voting except early years representatives). (b) Annually on financial issues relating to the arrangements for: i) education of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, in particular, the places to be commissioned by the LA and the arrangements for paying top up funding; ii) use of pupil referral units and the education of children otherwise than at school, in particular the places to be commissioned by the LA and schools, and the arrangements for paying top up funding; iii) early years’ provision; iv) administering the allocation of central government grants paid to schools via the local authority. (c) The terms of any proposed contracts with schools which are funded out of the Schools’ Budget and are in excess of the EU procurement thresholds, at least one month in advance of the invitation to tender. And to inform governing bodies of the outcome of all LA consultations with schools on such proposed contracts. (d) Such other matters concerning the funding of schools which the LA sees fit, including i) high needs block provision; ii) central licences negotiated by the Secretary of State; iii) funding of brought forward deficits. (e) Matters of policy with major financial implications. (f) The establishment of priorities