Minutes:
Coral Miller updated the Schools Forum on the National Funding Formula. Phase 2 consultation is expected to come out before the summer holiday; it is likely to be a 12-week consultation period. DfE is expected to ‘take the consultation returns seriously’.
Coral indicated that de-delegation remains uncertain for the future; the Growth Fund is likely to be based on historical information and the Schools Block will be ring fenced which it has not been to date.
Phase 2 should contain detailed information about proposed funding rates etc. and allow assessment of the impact on individual schools’ budgets. The main focus will be on the Schools Block which needs to be confirmed by Jan 2017 to allow time for LA budget setting process.
The Early Years consultation is still expected over the summer.
Robin Crofts mentioned that High Needs will be a future pressure and the Schools Block being ring fenced exacerbates this as we will not be able to move funds to the High Needs Block as we have done recently. Helen Huntley too raised concern e.g. over Alternative Provision funding and High Needs issues not yet resolved; Jo Matthews echoed the concern about the likely increase in out borough expensive placements despite the increase in in-borough places.
It was agreed that the July Schools Forum meeting would be cancelled but the date held for an opportunity to meet to consider the National Funding Formula Phase 2 consultation if it has been published.