The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.  The Clerk confirmed that no apologies had been received.

To confirm the minutes and update the actions of the meeting of the Schools’ Forum held on the 8^th December 2022.

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes from the meeting held on the 8^th December 2022 were approved as an accurate record.

Action 1

Ben Solly and Sharon Milner to attend the meeting of the Collaboration Group on Tuesday, 17th January 2023, 10.00 – 2.00 at the Wisteria Hotel, Oakham to brief them on the provision of SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and the EHCP (Education Health Care Plan) banding.

Members were informed that the item was on the agenda for discussion.

Action 2

The Early Years Department for Education (DfE) representative should attend a meeting of the Early Years Working Group – date to be confirmed.

Gill Curtis, the Head of Learning and Skills informed members that she had spoken with the Early Years DfE representative who had confirmed that they were unable to attend a meeting of the Early Years Working Group as it did not fall within their remit but would be happy to respond to any questions from the Group.

To receive a report from Andrew Merry, Finance Manager

[ITEM FOR INFORMATION]

(15 MINUTES)

A report was received from Andrew Merry, Finance Manager.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       The overspend within the High Needs Block continued.

·       This was a national problem and not just a Rutland problem.

·       The Council’s recovery plan was having a positive impact but demand was outstripping the savings generated from the actions in the recovery plan.

·       The mix of the children being funded was different to that of the funding that had been received. 

·       More 2 year old funding was being spent and less 3 and 4 year old funding was being spent than had been received.

·       The January Census would determine the Council’s new funding and this would impact the over/underspend in year.

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Bernadette Caffrey joined the meeting at 4.05 p.m.

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·       Peter French queried what impact the latest DfE information on special needs education would have so the Strategic Director of Children and Families requested that her agenda item (Delivering Better Value Programme) be taken next as this would update attendees.   The Forum agreed that Agenda Item 7 would be the next item discussed.

RESOLVED

That the Schools’ Forum:

a)    NOTED the contents of the report.

To receive a verbal update from Dawn Godfrey, Strategic Director of Children and Families

[ITEM FOR INFORMATION]

(10 MINUTES)

A verbal update was received from Dawn Godfrey, Strategic Director of Children and Families.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       The Delivering Better Value Programme had been commissioned by the DfE and would support 55 Local Authorities and their local systems to identify the highest impact changes that each system involved could make to better support their local children with SEND and make plans to implement those changes.

·       Rutland was one of the 55 local authorities that had been invited to take part in the programme.

·       The programme would place children and young people with SEND at the centre of the approach and decision making.

·       Phase 1 of the programme, working with the DfE and its partners Newton and CIPFA (The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy), had commenced.

·       A diagnostic of all SEND information/data including all the financial data was being done so as to identify the current state of play and see how it could be used more effectively for future forecasting.

·       The aim was to stop the year-on-year growth of the budget deficit.

·       The first meeting of the Delivering Better Value Programme would be held on Monday, 20^th March 2023 for the 55 Local Authorities to feedback the initial findings of their diagnostic investigations.

·       It was noted that officers from Rutland’s SEND Service and Finance Team had done an amazing job of collating a huge amount of evidence.

·       Members were informed that there would be no ‘magic wand’ but that learning around forecasting would be discussed and used moving forward.

·       Case Review Workshops would take place on the 18^th, 25^th and 27^th of  April 2023.  Schools had been notified of the dates/times and it was noted that it was important for schools to attend to help identify all the challenges being faced.

·       Parent and education provider questionnaires would be sent out in the near future regarding a child’s journey through the SEND system to help identify what could be changed for the better.

·       Further detailed feedback would be provided at the next School’s Forum meeting.

ACTION: Dawn Godfrey

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Steve Cox joined the meeting at 4.15 p.m.

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To receive a report from Louise Crookenden-Johnson, SEND Capital Programme Manager

[ITEM FOR INFORMATION]

(10 MINUTES)

A report was received from Louise Crookenden-Johnson, SEND Capital Programme Manager and was presented by Bernadette Caffrey, Head of Early Help, SEND and Inclusion.  During the discussion, the following points were received:

·       The Head of Early Help, SEND and Inclusion emphasised the need for schools and partners to engage in the Delivering Better Value Programme and the work being undertaken by the LA and Ofsted.

·       Members were informed that the best way for schools to assist with the process was to attend one of the workshops being delivered in April 2023.

·       If anybody had any queries regarding the Delivering Better Value Programme or just wanted further information, they should contact Louise Crookenden-Johnson, SEND Capital Programme Manager [lcrookendenjohnson@rutland.gov.uk] or Helen Chester, Service Manager SEND and Inclusion [hchester@rutland.gov.uk].

·       The Head of Early Help, SEND and Inclusion informed members that Rutland County Council had remaining capital funding available as part of the DfE High Needs Capital allocation and that an Expression of Interest process would be opened later in the year for proposals on how to utilise the funds.

·       The main issue regarding SEND was the increasing demand for assessments and plans. Providers were currently managing the capacity  but demand on special school places remained high.  Conversations were being held with providers and other LA’s on finding creative ways of managing the demand.

·       Good work continued with the SENCO network but the Schools’ Forum was being asked to provide £8k funding to enable it to continue into the next academic year.  Steve Cox informed the Forum that the SENCO network had been really good and he endorsed its good work.  The Schools’ Forum approved the £8k funding and requested details on how the £8k was/would be spent – details attached.

RESOLVED

That the Schools’ Forum:

a)    NOTED the update to members of Schools Forum on the progress of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Recovery Plan initiatives and projects designed to reduce the pressure on the Designated School Grant (DSG) High Needs Block:

·       To update on the progress with DfE Delivering Better Value review

·       To propose SEND Capital opportunities to address SEND system needs.

·       To highlight related risks and issues.

b)    Unanimously APPROVED the request that the SENCO network  continued in its current format at an additional cost to Schools’ Forum of £8k yearly.

To receive an update from Mrs K Pullan or Mrs J Ward, representatives of the Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) Early Years.

[ITEM FOR INFORMATION]

(5 MINUTES)

A verbal update was received from Mrs K Pullan, representative of the Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) Early Years.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       The SEND Capital Programme Manager and the Finance Manager had briefed the Early Years Working Group regarding the funding for the next academic year and had agreed to support the SEND Recovery Programme for a year.

·       Recruitment briefings to encourage pupils to seek a career in Early Years were being undertaken at Catmose College and Casterton College.  Ben Solly confirmed that he would be happy for a recruitment briefing to be held at Uppingham Community College.

·       A lot of questions had been raised following the recent budget news but a meeting would be held with the Council’s Finance Team to help resolve these queries and issues.

·       The main issue was regarding the capacity of current buildings. Many providers did not have the space to be able to take on additional children.

·       The hourly rates would increase but no details had been received so it was impossible to state what implications this would have on providers. 

·       The Head of Learning and Skills confirmed that the implications could be quite dramatic by 2025 if the 9 months funding offer for 2 year olds continued.

·       The minimum wage would also increase in April 2023 so increasing costs for providers but it was believed that staff recruitment would remain an issue.

·       It was agreed that Kathryn and the other Early Years’ managers would meet to collate the budget data for discussion at the next School’s Forum meeting.

ACTION: Kathryn Pullan

To receive a report from David Wylie, Business Intelligence Officer.

[ITEM FOR INFORMATION]

(15 MINS)

A presentation was received from David Wylie, Business Intelligence Officer.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       Members were asked to note that Lincolnshire County Council overestimated the number of children going to Stamford Welland Academy and underestimated the number of children going to Casterton College.

·       The Head of Learning and Skills confirmed that a trend of 3 years was required before the data figures would be noted and that the pressures on secondary school places continued to be high especially for those joining mid-year, which placed additional pressure on the Admission and Inclusion Service. 

To receive a verbal update from Ben Solly and Sharon Milner regarding feedback from the collaborative group meeting held on the 17^th January 2023 and the discussion regarding EHCP banding.

[ITEM FOR INFORMATION]

(5 MINUTES)

A verbal update was received from Ben Solly and Sharon Milner regarding feedback from the collaborative group meeting held on the 17^th January 2023 and the discussion regarding the EHCP banding.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       Both confirmed that attending the meeting had been a very useful experience.

·       Parents had explained the frustrations they felt with the EHCP banding system.

·       Ben and Sharon explained the new banding model and the commissioning work of the Schools’ Forum.  They detailed how the model worked and the positive impact it was having.

·       Concern was expressed by the group regarding inclusivity and the sharing of good practice.

·       The Head of Early Help, SEND and Inclusion reported that feedback from the group regarding Ben and Sharon’s attendance had been really positive.

·       It was noted that the service was working on developing a multi-agency guidance and that a meeting would be held in June 2023 to further discuss this.

·       Input from the Parent Carer Voice Collaborative Group continued to be very helpful but it was noted that input from schools and attendance at the June meeting would be most welcome.  It was agreed that the details of the relevant school staff member who would attend the meeting should be sent to the Clerk. 

ACTION: ALL

·       It was agreed that Sharon Milner would also arrange a meeting of the Rutland headteachers cohort for them to provide feedback regarding the multi-agency guidance.

ACTION: Sharon Milner

To review and approve the proposed Forward Plan

[ITEM FOR INFORMATION]

(5 MINUTES)

The Forward Plan was discussed.  There were no amendments.

(5 MINUTES FOR FINAL AGENDA ITEMS)

Section 106 Spending

The Head of Learning and Skills briefed the Schools’ Forum on the remaining capital funding available as part of the DfE High Needs Capital allocation.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       Indicative allocations to Children and Young People of £721K of S106 contributions was approved by Cabinet on 13/12/2022. 

·       An amount of £334,967.41 has not been allocated to a specific capital project to date.  

·       The amount of £334,967.41 comprises of contributions collected from S106 agreement for developments listed below.

·       The S106 agreements are available to view on the Council’s planning public access system within the documents section of the planning application.

·       As the Council has adopted the Community Infrastructure Levy, no  further S106 contributions for Education were anticipated unless there was a site specific need from a new strategic residential development.

·       As detailed in Appendix 1 of the Cabinet report, indicative allocations for the Community Infrastructure Levy and Oakham North agreement have been approved leaving remaining amounts of £69k and £168k respectively.

·       Members were asked to note that spending would be a Council decision linked to strategic priorities and there would be a formal application process (details attached).  There might also be some limitations as any spend would have to comply with the covenants within the S106 agreement.

·       Thursday, 22^nd June 2023, 4.00 – 5.30 p.m. via Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86101580093

The School and Early Years Finance (England) Regulations 2021 amended The Schools Forums (England) (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 to make permanent provisions to enable schools’ forum meetings to be held remotely. This includes (but is not limited to) telephone conferencing, video conferencing, live webcast and live interactive streaming. Where a schools’ forum decides to hold a public meeting by remote means only, the forum should provide support or make alternative arrangements so that any interested parties who do not have telephone or online access can attend virtual meetings.

Thursday, 22^nd June 2023, 4.00 – 5.30 p.m. (to be confirmed)