To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Schools’ Forum held on 21^st January 2016

The minutes of the meeting of the Schools’ Forum held on the 21 January 2016, copies of which had been previously circulated, were confirmed subject to the following amendment:

Item 5 – Additional Funding from Last Year’s DSG Underspend

Schools’ Forum AGREED that in future if there is an underspend it would be allocated to schools using the agreed funding formula and not be retained centrally.

Item 5 Point 1. Mr Fowler & Mr Williams confirmed that the form designed to collate information about MOD children had been drawn up and circulated to all schools for completion.

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are invited to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

No declarations of interest were made.

To receive any petitions, deputations and questions received from Members of the Public in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 217.

The total time allowed for this item shall be 30 minutes.  Petitions, declarations and questions shall be dealt with in the order in which they are received.  Questions may also be submitted at short notice by giving a written copy to the Committee Administrator 15 minutes before the start of the meeting.

The total time allowed for questions at short notice is 15 minutes out of the total time of 30 minutes.  Any petitions, deputations and questions that have been submitted with prior formal notice will take precedence over questions submitted at short notice.  Any questions that are not considered within the time limit shall receive a written response after the meeting and be the subject of a report to the next meeting.

No petitions, deputations or questions were received from members of the public.

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Mrs M Darlington & Mr B Gale joined the meeting at 4.10pm

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To receive a paper from Mark Fowler

Mr Fowler presented the paper ‘Report on the Consultation on Formula Funding for Schools’. This paper was for information and to prompt further consideration of the potential impact on funding within Rutland from the Government’s planned changes to the national formula for funding. Following brief discussion Schools’ Forum NOTED the contents.

To receive an update from Dawn Greaves

Mr Dabin-Williams presented the papers ‘Schools Budget 2016/17 & Appendix A Draft Indicative School Budget 2016/17’ and ‘Schools Budget Draft Outturn 2015/16 & Appendix 1’. Schools’ Forum NOTED the contents and discussed.

The DSG underspend for 2015/16 is £325k. £50k of this has been set aside for school improvement. It was AGREED that the remaining £275k be distributed to schools as per the agreed funding formula as soon as possible.

It was commented that the underspend was a significant amount, largely due to the difficulty in accurately predicting the funding requirements of the High Needs Block.

Schools’ Forum NOTED the contents of papers ‘Funding Formula Principles’, and ‘Allocation of the Carry Forward Underspend to Schools’.

To receive an verbal report from Mark Fowler

Mr Fowler reported that schools had in April 2016 received details about Local Authority charged services available to schools and asked for any comments or feedback on its operation to date.

Mr Williams commented that there was a lack of clarity in relation to what is charged for within Educational Psychology services (EPS) and SEN. Mr Fowler reported he had already received a similar comment from another Head Teacher and would be looking to clarify SEN responsibilities within the LA Charged Services information. Mr Fowler explained that no charge would be made for statutory work but that there would be a charge for all other EPS provision.

Mr Fowler informed Schools’ Forum that SEN provision within the Local Authority is currently being reviewed in its entirety, and also reported the current position regarding recruitment for SEN Case Officer.

Mr Fowler advised that a one day SENCo training event is planned for later in June and asked that Head Teachers encourage their staff to attend. Mr Williams requested that given the heavy workload SENCo officers have, the agenda should indicate the  benefit to them.

Following discussion of support for governors, Mr Fowler reported that he was meeting individually with a number of Chairs of Governors. He was seeking feedback and suggestions on how to add value to services to Governors to improve attendance and engagement.

Councillor Wilby commented that schools are free to buy in services from external organisations if they so wish, and asked that schools notify and give feedback to the  Local Authority if they do this.

To receive a verbal report from Mark Fowler

Mr Fowler tabled a paper ‘School Improvement Collaborative Budget’ and briefly summarised actions to date. As previously agreed by Schools’ Forum a group of three, comprising a primary head teacher, the coordinator of the Rutland Teaching Alliance and Council Head of Learning & Skills, had met to decide how the funds would be distributed and this was detailed in the paper. Following discussion it was confirmed that Schools’ Forum will receive a report on the use of these funds twice during the year.

            In answer to a question, Mr Williams provided for information a brief summary of the purpose and activities of the Rutland Teaching Alliance.

            Mrs Milner thanked the group for their work on this project.

Schools’ Forum to discuss

Mr Fowler reported that the Council had received information that there was going to be significant change in personnel at both MOD camps over the next two years. This may involve gradual movement of troops over a longer period in St Georges. The changes at Cottesmore could be more abrupt and over a shorter period. It is likely all schools will be affected to some degree. If Head Teachers have any views, comments, suggestions on preparation for these changes they should send to Mr Fowler or Councillor Wilby.

None received.

On behalf of Schools’ Forum, Mrs Milner thanked Mrs Powell, who was attending her last meeting, for her support and wished her well for the future.

Thursday, 22^nd September 2016 at 4.00 p.m. in the Council Chamber

Proposed Agenda Items?

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 22^nd September 2016 at 4.00 pm in the Council Chamber.