People and Communities Strategic Schools Forum Wednesday 4th May 2016 – Priory Community School Agenda Action Lead Apologies and Declarations of Interest – John 1. 09.30 SSF members are reminded that they need to declare an Simpson interest in any item that is on the agenda John 2. 09.35 Minutes of the previous meeting Simpson Matters arising – John 3. 09.40 Notification of AOB – Demand for the link programme Simpson Chair’s Business - Letter from Mendip Green Primary John 4. 09. 45 Schools and response Simpson Decision on withdrawal of funding for Sheila 5. 09.55 early help via Community Family Decision French Service/parenting following consultation Wendy 6. 10 .15 Alternative Provision Review Decision Packer Carolyn Review of Safeguarding in Education 7. 10.45 Decision Hills/Louise Officer role Malik Louise 8. 11.00 Review of effectiveness of decision making Decision Malik 11.05 Refreshment break Request for resources for pre-opening Emma 9. 11.20 costs for Parklands Educate Together Decision Whitehead Primary Academy 2015-16 Schools Budget Monitoring – Louise 10. 11.30 Information papers to be provided at the meeting Malik Emma 11. 11.40 Process for traded services 2017-18 Information Whitehead Discussion on school funding reforms and Louise 12. 11.50 white paper and potential impact on the Information Malik role of the schools forum 13. 12.05 Impact reports Agenda Action Lead Sue 13a – The Learning Exchange Information Ivermee Gabrielle 13b – SEN Equipment and other costs Information Stacey 13c – Sensory impairment joint Gabrielle Information arrangements Stacey John 14. 12.35 Evaluation of meeting Simpson 12.40 Date of next meeting Wednesday 6 July 2016, Gordano School (deadline for papers Friday 17 June 2016 ) People and Communities Strategic Schools Forum Wednesday 2 March 2016 – Clevedon School Present John Simpson C Chair Peter Binding V Headteacher, Worle School Stephen Webber V Headteacher, All Saints Primary School Julian Baldwin V Headteacher, Backwell School (substitute for Gary Lewis, Gordano School) Chris Wade V Headteacher, Nailsea School Peter Turner V Headteacher, Ashcombe Primary School Nick Donnelly V Principal, Voyage Learning Campus Fiona Richings V Headteacher, Baytree Special School Richard Riordan V Headteacher, Portishead Primary School Denise Hunt V Governor, Bournville Primary School Jacci Ramplin V Governor, Backwell School Sonia Russe V Governor, Castle Batch Primary School Phil Weston V Early Years Mike Evans NV Governor, Ravenswood Special School Claire Hudson NV Diocese of Bath & Wells Jon Reddiford NV RTPA arrived at 11 am Sue Ivermee Of Assistant Director (Learning & Achievement) Louise Malik Of Service Leader (Resources and Strategic Planning) Wendy Packer Of Prevention and Re-engagement Service Leader Emma Whitehead Of Education Funding and Traded Services Manager Sheila French Of Community Family Service Leader (North) – agenda item 6 Kate Wilcox Of Strategy & Policy Development Officer (Family Support) – agenda item 6 Item Issue Action 1. Apologies and Declarations of interest (JS) Apologies were received from Gary Lewis - Gordano School, Jacqui Ford - Weston College, Cllr Harley and Cllr Hall Declarations of interest: Denise Hunt declared an interest in agenda item 11 regarding the carry forward budgets, in particular in relation to Becket Primary School and Bournville Primary School. Nick Donnelly declared an interest in the additional agenda item regarding the Voyage Learning Campus. See below. 1 2. Minutes of the previous meeting (JS) The following amendments were made to the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2016: Pg 5 regarding pupils living on the county border refers to schools in another authority. Pg 14 regarding possible redundancies in March. An informed decision will be made at the March meeting. Matters arising: Nil 3. Any other business (JS) Notification of any other business – Alternative provision LM gave a verbal update regarding the fast moving situation. An additional paper will be tabled at the meeting regarding alternative provision which will be discussed after item 9 on the agenda. Apprenticeship levy The levy will be introduced from April 2017 and is currently under consultation. There are two element to the government’s plan to increase the number of apprentices. The first will apply to any employer with more than 250 employees and the target will be for 2.3% of the workforce to be apprentices. The second will be to apply a levy fund training costs for the additional apprentices. This levy will apply to public institutions with a pay bill of over £3M. The Levy will be 0.5% of pay bill. This will apply to individual academies and VA schools. However, if a school is in a MAT it will apply to the MAT as a total not to individual schools. For maintained schools where the local authority is the employer they are considered part of the council’s pay bill so all such schools will pay the 0.5% apprentice levy. LM to ensure all Schools will be updated via Noticeboard. schools are informed Future request for new school support A new primary school will open in September 2016 and a further new one in September 2017. A budget of £45,000 has been agreed this year in line with policy. Discussions with the next sponsor have commenced and they have indicated set up costs of £220k. The sponsor has been told that this is not in line with our policy and that they would need to make a request to the SSF meeting, possibly to the meeting being held in May. Scheme for financing schools update EW updated the meeting regarding the article produced by HR (Piers Hartridge) for pension implications regarding TUPE staff. Schools need to be aware of the article and the pension implications. The wording within the scheme will be changed accordingly. The document regarding the new scheme will be circulated to schools. 2 4. Chair’s Business (JS) The Chair thanked Peter Binding for chairing the January meeting. The Chair advised that a short paper will be tabled during the refreshment break under AOB regarding alternative provision. He highlighted the duty of the SSF regarding the Equalities Act and the necessity of undertaking equality impact assessments which need to be taken into consideration against the decisions made at the last meeting. 5. Impact of the Council’s budget for 2016-17 (LM) LM advised that the discussion at the December meeting was about the type of reductions being considered by the Council for the 2016-17 financial year and this paper gives further details now the budget has been set. Some of these will not have a direct impact on the SSF but give an overview. Table 1, page 2 – the top row of figures shows the government grant funding. These are estimates and LM advised the position could change, and is on top of significant grant reductions in the period 2010-15. It puts into focus the significant reduction in government grant funding. Table 2, page 3 – shows the scale of reductions being considered by the Council to set a balanced budget. There are a range of plans for future financial years but still more to identify. RR asked if this same information will be shared with schools. LM advised that Noticeboard has included a link to all the SSF papers. The information will also be shared at a meeting of Headteachers and Chairs of Governors being held on 3 March. Savings Proposals – Line PC_CSS4 relates to reductions in the Community Family Teams. This is in addition to the proposals that were considered at the SSF meeting in January. Income generation and trading activity – the Council has not always have been consistently charging for activities. There is a need to be more consistent about charging for non-statutory activities. There will be implications on relationships with schools and EY providers. An example for future schools was provided. Future schools activity is de-delegated from the SSF. The suggestion is to support schools to improve sustainability through investigating new governance or collaboration options. Once a school has taken a decision, the costs associated with this change should be charged to the school, such as academy conversion. This matter will be discussed at Future Schools Board meeting. Line PC_LA_2 – PT asked what this means in real terms to schools. 3 SI replied that work behind statutory work is not part of the allocation of time from VLS. This will be negotiated and fully understood before any work is undertaken. SI advised that there will still be a time allocation for children with a statement or plan but the proposal is for work beyond this model. There will be no reductions in allocations, although schools may have exceeded allocations and the need is to be more robust about recording and charging for this. LM advised that work has been undertaken jointly with BANES who have asked North Somerset to consider working across both authorities regarding education psychology provision. PT asked whether this would be cost effective for staff travelling greater distances. SI advised that NS would manage BANES colleagues regarding deployment and supervision would be managed through senior education psychology time. Line PC_ASS_31 – school meal rate change. PT asked about this change. LM replied that the change is scheduled for 1st April 2016. Letters have already been sent to schools regarding the 5p increase from April to reflect the National Living Wage and healthy schools agenda. LM advised there were two different letters, for those in LA organised contract and for those outside the contract. This was discussed at the SSF meeting in October. The SSF is recommended to: The SSF noted. a. Note the savings within the Council’s budget and their impact on children and young people and the education community. 6. Implications of funding cessation for Family Support provided through the Community Families Teams (SF) LM advised that the decision was taken at the last SSF meeting to make this reduction as part of setting the draft budget.