The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies were received from Gary Morphus, Bernadette Caffrey and Gill Curtis but Lizzie Papworth attended as her representative.

To confirm the minutes and update the actions of the meeting of the Schools’ Forum held on the 16^th March 2023.

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes from the meeting held on the 16^th March 2023 were approved as an accurate record.

Actions from the Previous Meeting

Action 1

Further detailed feedback regarding the Delivering Better Value Programme would be provided at the next School’s Forum meeting.       

Item on the agenda.

Action 2

Kathryn Pullan and the other Early Years’ managers to meet to collate the budget data for discussion at the next School’s Forum meeting.      

Item on the agenda.

Item 3

Details of the relevant school staff member to attend the Parent Carer Voice Collaborative Group meeting in June to be sent to the Clerk.     

The Clerk confirmed that she had received no details but would find out if the meeting had been held and who had attended.

ACTION: Jane Narey

Item 4

Sharon Milner to arrange a meeting of the Rutland headteachers cohort for them to provide feedback regarding the multi-agency guidance.

Sharon Milner confirmed that this action would be carried forward to the next meeting.

ACTION: Sharon Milner

To receive a report from Andrew Merry, Finance Manager

[ITEM FOR INFORMATION]

(15 MINUTES)

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

The Dedicated Schools Grant had a deficit of £246k for the 2022-2023 financial year.

This was entirely due to the deficit position in the High Needs Block but the end position was better than expected.

Total deficit for the Dedicated Schools Grant for 2022-2023 was £1.3m

Funding for the Early Years Block to be confirmed in July 2023.

Information regarding the Additional Early Years Grant had been received by the Local Authority on the 22^nd June 2023 and an update would be provided as soon as possible.

It was noted that schools were unable to plan due to the lack of information received regarding the school staff pay negotiations.

To receive a report from from Gill Curtis, Head of Learning and Skills 

[ITEM FOR DECISION]

(5 MINUTES)

A report was received from Gill Curtis, Head of Learning and Skills and was presented by Elizabeth Papworth, Service Manager.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

An increase in charges for the co-ordination of admissions for the academic year 2023-2024 was recommended in line with the Consumer Prices Index for the financial year.

No changes were proposed for the charges in relation to the moderation and monitoring of Key Stage One and Two statutory assessments.

RESOLVED

That the Schools’ Forum:

Unanimously APPROVED the increase in charges for the co-ordination of admissions for the academic year 2023-2024.

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.  During the discussion, the following points were received:

A presentation on the Delivering Better Value Programme was received from Louise Crookenden-Johnson – copy attached.

Expressions of interests expected in autumn 2023 for the secondary alternative provision proposed site.

It was hoped to use all the funding (£1m from the capital funding and £1m  from the revenue funding) to move the project forward.

A sustainability plan for post 2025 was being built into the Implementation Plan and input from schools into this work would be welcome.

Louise informed the members that she would be leaving the Local Authority in September 2023 but that Helen Chester, the current Service Manager for SEND and Inclusion would be taking over her role.

Louise was thanked for all of her excellent work and support over the past five years and she thanked everyone for having such a brilliant project which was  ahead of many other Local Authorities.

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)

An 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:

Kathryn confirmed that this was her last Schools’ Forum meeting as she would be retiring.

A meeting of the Early Years’ managers had been held to discuss budget data as requested by the Schools’ Forum in March 2023 and this information was included in her report.

The Early Years’ sector was unable to plan ahead due to the lack of information received regarding future funding.

The situation continued to be very difficult for all providers and that the funding for 2 year olds would have a massive impact if it came into effect in April 2024.

To receive an update on pupil place planning from Gill Curtis, Head of Learning and Skills 

[ITEM FOR INFORMATION]

(5 MINUTES)

A written update was received from Gill Curtis, Head of Learning and Skills and was presented by Elizabeth Papworth, Service Manager.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

The figures stated within the report were as of the 1^st June 2023.

The first preference offers to Rutland residents for secondary schools had increased to 93.8% - good news!

Catmose College and Uppingham Community College were oversubscribed, with children on the waiting list.

Casterton College had places available.

Out of county places remained stable with no big changes.

The first preference offers to Rutland residents for primary schools had increased to 98.4% - good news!

Notification from Gill Curtis, Head of Learning and Skills of the Annual Review of the Constitution and Rules of Conduct including the Nomination of Chair and Vice Chair

[ITEM FOR INFORMATION]

(5 MINUTES)

Notification was received from Gill Curtis, Head of Learning and Skills regarding the annual review of the Constitution and Rules of Conduct and this was communicated by Elizabeth Papworth, Service Manager. 

A copy of the revised constitution had been distributed for members to review.

Since the last review in 2022, schools’ population data (page 5) had been updated and 1 maintained school had converted to academy status.

There were no comments or recommendations provided by members.

To review the current membership of the Rutland Schools’ Forum and agree any action(s) required.

[ITEM FOR DECISION]

(5 MINUTES)

The current membership of the Rutland Schools’ Forum was reviewed.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

Oliver Teasel, Head of School at Harington School was the new representative for the Post 16 Provision.

The Schools’ Forum had vacancies amongst its membership namely representatives for Academies and Governors.

There would also be vacancies for a Private, Voluntary & Independent (PVI) Early Years’ representative and an Academies’ representative as Kathryn Pullan and Sharon Milner would be leaving at the end of the academic year.

Kathryn Pullan stated she would notify Jane Narey of her replacement as the Private, Voluntary & Independent (PVI) Early Years representative.

ACTION: Kathryn Pullan

It was agreed that Jane would write to all schools requesting nominations but members were requested to be pro-active within their own sectors in encouraging representatives to come forward.

ACTION: Jane Narey

The Chair thanked Sharon Milner for all her excellent work with and support of the Schools’ Forum and wished her every success in the future. 

RESOLVED

That the Schools’ Forum:

AGREED that the current membership arrangements were balanced and continued to reflect the education sector in Rutland.

AGREED that no review of the Schools’ Forum membership needed to be taken unless vacancies remained unfilled.

To receive a presentation from Dawn Godfrey, Strategic Director for Children and Families.

[ITEM FOR INFORMATION]

(10 MINUTES)

Dawn Godfrey, Strategi Director of Children confirmed that the update regarding the Delivering Better Value Programme had been included in the presentation given earlier by Louise Crookenden-Johnson, SEND Capital Programme Manager. 

To review and approve the Schools’ Forum Work Plan for 2023-24

[ITEM FOR DISCUSSION]

(10 MINUTES)

The work plan was discussed and updated as follows:

The Nurture Hub and Practice: Update planned for the meeting on the 5^th October would be presented by Helen Chester.

The Area SEND Inspection Report was expected to be published by the end of July.  Details of the report plus any identified next steps would be discussed at the meeting on the 5^th October.

(5 MINUTES FOR FINAL AGENDA ITEMS)

Ben Solly stated that Uppingham Community College served children from Leicestershire and West and North Northamptonshire as well as Rutland but that the school was finding it increasingly difficult to receive funding from Leicestershire County Council, West Northamptonshire Council and North Northamptonshire Council for EHCP out of county placements. 

RESOLVED

That the Schools’ Forum:

AGREED that the Chair, on behalf of the Rutland Schools’ Forum, would write to each council’s S151 Officer and copy in the Chair of the respective Schools’ Forum.

Thursday, 5^th October 2023, 4.00 – 5.30 p.m. via Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88477167623

Thursday, 1^st February 2024, 4.00 – 5.30 p.m. via Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88550441601

Thursday, 9^th May 2024, 4.00 – 5.30 p.m. via Zoom - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88263042018

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, 5^th October 2023, 4.00 – 5.30 p.m. in the Council Chamber, RCC, Catmose, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6HP.