Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2017 attached.

DECISION:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2017 be signed as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the last meeting where no otherwise covered on this agenda and to report on items considered at the Cabinet.

DISCUSSION:

The Head of Education & Learning tabled updates on the following arising from the last meeting (DEF minute 45, 21 June 2017) on:-

(a) English and Maths at the end of age 16 to 18 in 2016 (ie progress in these qualifications between the end of Key Stage 4 and the end of the 16-18 phase of education;

(b) Attendance and Absenteeism Data

The Head of Education & Learning tabled DfE pupil absence data 2015/16 for Devon State Funded Primary, Secondary and Special Schools, together with Devon’s own attendance data for autumn/spring terms 2016/17, highlighting persistent absence concerns.

DISCUSSION:

The Chairman welcomed new members /the following membership changes were noted:-

Mrs Teresa Sturtivant     Secondary Maintained governor

Mrs Jill Larcombe          Secondary Academies

Mr Tim Newman Secondary Academies

Ms Sandra Barnett         Early Years Private Voluntary and Independent

Ms Lydia Wright                        Early Years Private Voluntary and Independent (substitute member)

Mr Bill Blythe                 16-19

Mr Arnet Donkin            16-19 (substitute member)

DECISION:

That the Committee’s appreciation be conveyed to Mr Daryll Chapman (Secondary Maintained Headteacher) who had stepped down from the Forum after serving since 2009.

ACTION:

County Solicitor (Fiona Rutley)  

Joint report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/17/12) attached

DISCUSSION:

The Forum considered the joint report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/17 /12).

The Forum also noted the respective minutes of the Schools Finance Group (SFG) of 8 November 2017.

The report (DEF/17/12) covered:- Month 6 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget monitoring position;  and proposals for the central budget balance at year end.

Month 6 forecasted a net DSG over spend of £2.036m.  £20.55m had been approved by DEF and cabinet in carry forward from 2016-17 (£18.4m of which was schools balances) and included as budget for 2017-18.

Significant long term management action and scrutiny was now in place to continually review High Needs spending pressures with benefits beginning to be seen.  The County Council remained committed to keeping as much funding as possible in all schools.

The DfE had advised that any overspend at year end for DSG central budgets (including High Needs) must firstly be to offset in part or total by any (ie not ring fenced) uncommitted surplus balances, including from de-delegated budgets.  However whilst recognising the reasoning behind report recommendation (ii) in light of the DfE advice now received, the Primary and Secondary (maintained) Schools Members had difficulty in agreeing to any surplus from de-delegation being returned to the central budget for all schools, without further consultation with maintained schools.

Following an adjournment the Forum reached a way forward.  It was also noted that the Schools Finance Group would explore de-delegation issues further at its next meeting.

DECISION:

(a) that the month 6 DSG monitoring position as set out in section 1of the report be noted;

(b) that the Devon Education Forum agree in-principle that any residual deficit balance in the growth fund and High Needs Block be carried forward into 2018-19, to be offset by possible increased High Needs funding, alongside continued management action to control spending (as detailed in paragraph 1.6 of report DEF/17/12) – on the basis that no one sector was disadvantaged over the other in the netting off process.

ACTION: 

County Treasurer (Adrian Fox)

Joint report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/17/13) attached

DISCUSSION:

The Forum considered the joint report of the Chief Officer for Children’s Services and County Treasurer (DEF/17 /13).

The Forum also noted the respective minutes of the Schools Finance Group (SFG) of

8 November 2017.

The report (DEF/17/13) covered:-

Schools Funding

High Needs Funding Levels of Element 3

Centrally retained services

Disapplications

Devon’s consultation with schools events  had been attended with over 60% of schools represented. In all, 103 responded to the consultation, ie 29% all schools and represented 48% Devon’s school pupils. The full consultation analysis within Appendix A of the report showed 80-98% schools agreement to funding formula proposals (questions 1-4). 

In respect of:-

-High Needs Funding levels of Element 3 (paragraph 2.3 of the report):-  schools showed a split with 67% primaries agreeing with option 2, whilst 68% secondaries agreeing with option 1.  The Schools Finance Group supported option 2 along with  the overall majority of school responses; 

-Centrally Retained Services: Emotional, Psychological & Social Wellbeing (paragraph 4.3 of the report):- if grant funding was to be reduced the elements most valued by schools EH4MH (ie 1:1 supervision and Kooth Online) would receive priority.  However many agencies supported this as a significant priority service and it was hopeful an appropriate level of funding would continue to be available.

DECISION:

(a) that Cabinet be recommended:-

that in respect of proposals for the 2018-19 schools revenue funding formula (as set out in section 1 of report (DEF/17 /13)):-

(i) that the formula factors for distributing the funding to schools be accepted.

(Note that the final funding rates may change subject to affordability when the October 2017 pupil data and Schools Block DSG settlement are confirmed in late December 2017);

(ii) that the reception uplift calculation within the local formula for 2018-19 be approved;

(iii) that the minimum funding guarantee be set at 0% for 2018-19;

(iv) that the minimum funding guarantee be set at plus 0.5% for 2018-19 if the disapplication is approved to amend the MFG rate;

(Vote: all phases maintained and academy, PVI)

(b) that option 2  - to limit the plus package availability for up to 190 learners with lower funding to Level 3 learners (as set out in section 2 of report (DEF/17 /13))  be approved;

(Vote: all phases maintained and academy, PVI)

(c) thatthe de-delegation proposals for maintained primary and maintained secondary schools (as set out in section 3 of report (DEF/17 /13)) be approved;

(Vote: Maintained primary representatives)

(Vote: Maintained secondary representatives)

(d) that the centrally retained services budget allocation (as set out in section 4 and appendix

 A of the report (DEF/17/13) be approved;

 (Vote: all phases maintained and academy, PVI)

(e) that the local authority’s disapplication requests had been applied for and were awaiting approval be noted;

(f) that consultation responses relating to Funding Formula, High Needs, De-delegation and Central Services (as set out in appendix A of the report (DEF/17/13)) be noted.

ACTION: 

County Treasurer (Adrian Fox)

The Forum received the minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2017 (considered under Finance Update and Funding Formula minutes 53 and 54 above).

Reports from the Head of Education & Learning (DEF/17/14, DEF/17/15, DEF/17/16)                          attached.

DISCUSSION:

(a) Early Help Update

The Forum received the report of the Head of Education & Learning (DEF/17/14), on new delivery structures and processes and the securing of permanent leadership for Devon’s Early Help system following Ofsted report 2015.

Early Help was a priority for the Devon Children and Families Partnership, with multi agency work which schools were very much involved with.  The Early Help Improvement Plan was to be submitted to the DfE by the end of December.  The report also covered Early Help self assessment; performance monitoring, communications and the Locality Partnership.

(b) SEND Improvement Board Update

The Forum received the report of the Head of Education & Learning (DEF/17/15).  The

Board was very keen to engage with schools and a senior teacher representative from the primary phase would be welcome to support in the engagement strand to work alongside the secondary representative.

The current contracts for community health and care services for specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Public Health Nursing and specialist services for Children with Additional/Complex needs were due for renewal 1 April 2019.  A review and options appraisal was therefore currently looking at the future shape of these services and DAPH would be pleased to be involved in developing the new service.  Public health and portage services were highly valued by schools for under 5’s  Special Educational Needs children.

(c) Attainment 2016/17 

The Forum received the report of the Head of Education & Learning (DEF/17/16) on data available to date (full data still to be received):-

-Early Years Foundation stage was performing in line nationally/regionally.

Attainment gap for Free School Meals children in Phonics year 1 had slightly increased but Devon was in line nationally and better than regionally.  However phonics for SEN children although a small cohort required further investigation; 

-Key Stage  (KS) 1 by Gender showed girls performing better than boys in Devon and nationally in Reading, Writing and Science;

-Provisional Key Stage 2 data indicated slightly better than nationally/regionally in Reading, Writing and Maths, although some individual subjects were below national;

-Provisional Key Stage 4 data indicated Devon was performing significantly better than nationally/slightly better than regionally in English and Maths.  Also Attainment 8 was slightly better than nationally/regionally.  However in Progress 8 boys particularly were not making as much progress and this would be a key focus for the coming year;

-Disadvantaged groups KS2 and KS4 was due to be published end January 2018.  Free School Meal children attainments had shown a significant improvement this year with the attainment gap starting to close.  Children in Care provisional results indicated an improvement on last year with a full analysis due later;

Overall priorities for the coming year were progress for more able pupils, in Maths and for boys.

-Provisional 3+ A levels had significantly improved overall (just under nationally/better than regionally).

DASH Members highlighted concerns at the significant shortage of Maths teachers in (SW) Devon.  This was a regional issue with a regional Maths hub, training and financial incentives being explored.

(d)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

To review action for the Forum from its groups and to receive minutes:-

(a) Schools’ Finance Group

Minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2017, attached

Also available at 

https://new.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/school-information/devon-education-forum/schools-finance-group

(b) School Organisation, Capital and Admissions Forum

Minutes of the meeting held on  26 September 2017, attached

Also available at

https://new.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/school-information/devon-education-forum/school-organisation-capital-and-admissions-group-soca

The Forum received the following minutes:-

School Organisation, Capital and Admissions (SOCA)

Minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2017.  

To be held at 10am at County Hall, Exeter:

Mon 15 January 2018

Wed 21 March 2018

Wed 20 June 2018

Wed 17 October 2018

Wed 23 January 2019

Wed 20 March 2019.