Agenda item

The minutes of the Schools Forum meeting held on 16 January 2019 were agreed as a correct record, subject to the following amendments:

Page 2, minute 682: please amend the first sentence to read: ‘…. an increase of £5.5m above the 2018/19 amount.’

Page 3, minute 683: please amend the first sentence of the third paragraph to read: ‘…. with the DfE about the continuation of school led factors.’

Matters Arising:

Page 3, minute 682: details of the ‘little extras’ had been published and were available on the DfE website. It was noted that VA schools had already received their payments.

Page 4, minute 685: there was nothing to report on the High Needs Deficit Reduction Strategy at this meeting and it was suggested more information be made available at the meeting in July.

Page 5, minute 685: no time scale had been set to draw up of a paper exploring the reassigning of funding between blocks as the issue was still under discussion.

Page 6, minute 686:  it was noted that interim arrangements were in place for Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) support until the end of March; Vikram Hansrani provided a verbal update. The new provider, Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust (BHFT) was due to take over as at 1 April 2019.  Meetings were continuing with BHFC to confirm all essential details and meetings were also taking place with CCG, who would fund the non-statutory SALT services.  There had to be clarity about what the CCG would provide, which CCG recognised.  This was a drive to bring parity across all three authorities concerned (Slough, RBWM and Bracknell). When the provider was settled it would be easier, although the situation would continue to be challenging. Schools would receive details of service level agreements for statutory interventions through meetings which were being arranged to take place during March.  It was confirmed that 1 April 2019 was the due start date and schools would be kept informed. 

Page 7: minute 691: it was confirmed that the Schools Forum meeting scheduled for Wednesday 15 May had been cancelled.

Page 7: minute 692: the Chair had written to the Secretary of State for Education regarding the proposal to withdraw supplementary funding to maintained nursery schools (MNS). A response had been received from a DfE official (copies of which were made available at the meeting) and it was noted the funding was to be extended until the end of the Summer term 2019.  However, there was no indication of long-term plans.  The Chair thanked Philip Gregory for providing supporting information and asked that Schools Forum be kept informed of future developments.