Agenda item

5-16 Task Group: had not met but was scheduled to meet.

High Needs Block:  had met on Tuesday 17 October.  It was reported that a great deal of work was being undertaken in this area, with a dedicated person leading. The group had discussed bandings and centrally retained funding. Further clarity was required and it was queried whether decisions were being made using insecure data. Helen Huntley and Jo Matthews had both experienced significant financial losses in bandings without any indication or consultation as to why such changes had been made.

Cate Duffy confirmed there would be further discussions about bandings and the need to establish whether the bandings allocated two years previously had been correct. There was an aim to be consistent across panels. Jo Matthews confirmed she had attended a panel meeting and expressed concern about the descriptors used and whether those on the panel fully understood the implications.

Cate Duffy had discussed this matter with service leads and offered to scrutinise the figures before the next meeting.It was agreed that clarity was required particularly as the most vulnerable children were involved. 

A member requested clarity regarding PFI.  The Chair confirmed she had met with John Voytal and Susan Woodland and it was planned for an update to be given at the Schools Forum meeting scheduled for Wednesday 17 January. Work was on-going.

It was noted that special schools and PRUs had not yet received details of their commissioning arrangements for 2017/18.  Cate Duffy would arrange for Vikram Hansrani to follow this up. In addition, it was noted that Haybrook College had not yet received an indicative budget for the current year.

A member asked if there would be a consultation about moving top-up allocations from termly arrangements although this was being actioned already.  Cate Duffy explained this was under constant discussion and the Chair suggested the query should be taken back to the next meeting of the HNB Task Group.

As the submission had to be made to the DfE before the end of the current month, it was queried whether Schools Forum would need to meet before that date.  The Chair confirmed agreement could be sought by email and requested that officers ensure reports were clear and responded to within a given time.

Early Years Task Group: had met on 2 November. Michael Jarrett reported that three key possibilities had been put forward:

1. Three options had been given under the migration of the universal base rate for primary schools by 2020
2. Two options under the maintained nursery schools supplementary funding

and,

3. Review of funding for EHCP children in Early Years settings with a focus on

consistency with schools’ sector

Block allocations were due Monday 18 December and options would be emailed to members.