The Redbridge Schools Forum met on Thursday 21 March 2024 to discuss a range of financial and operational matters affecting schools within the borough. Key topics included the allocation of funding for growth and falling rolls, the monitoring of school budgets, and the distribution of various grants. The forum also reviewed updates on high needs funding and early years provision.

Growth and Falling Rolls Funding Arrangements 2024-25

The forum was scheduled to consider the criteria for funding allocated to schools experiencing growth or a decline in student numbers. This funding, part of the Department for Education's (DfE) guidance, aims to support schools in managing revenue costs associated with repurposing surplus places, such as creating SEN provision or early years places. The report outlined that for 2024/25, funding could be provided where school capacity surveys indicated a need for places within the next three to five years. The criteria for eligibility included schools with pupil numbers falling below 80% of their planned admission number (PAN), or where local planning data showed future need for places. The report also detailed a worked example of how funding would be calculated, based on the average weighted pupil unit (AWPU) and the difference between the PAN and the actual number of pupils. The forum was asked to comment on the current falling rolls criteria, including thresholds for eligibility and the process for academies. The combined budget for the Growth and Falling Rolls Fund for 2024/25 was proposed at £0.782 million.

Schools Budget Monitoring Quarter 1, 2, 3 2023-24 Maintained Schools Only

This report provided an overview of the forecasted school reserve positions for maintained schools in Redbridge as of 31 March 2024. It was noted that the overall forecasted reserve balance for maintained schools was £19.819 million, representing a decrease of £4.470 million from the opening position on 1 April 2023. The report detailed the movements in reserves per sector (primary, secondary, special, and pupil referral units), with primary schools forecasting a reduction of £1.706 million, secondary schools £2.245 million, and special schools £519,000. At the time of the report, two schools were forecasting an in-year deficit, with an additional five schools forecasting balances under £50,000. The council had recruited additional resources to work with schools in deficit or at risk of deficit to develop recovery plans.

Schools Grants (Non DSG) 2023-24

The forum was presented with an overview of non-Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) grants received by local authority maintained schools in 2023-24. The report detailed the arrangements for administering these central government grants. Key grants included the Mainstream School Additional Grant (£3.852 million), National Tutoring Programme (£0.132 million), PE & Sports Premium (£1.217 million), Pupil Premium Grant (£12.397 million), Recovery Premium (£0.382 million), Teachers Pay Additional Grant (£2.777 million), Teachers Pension Grant (£0.491 million), and Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) (£7.365 million). The report also highlighted the Major Universal Free School Meal grant (£5.903 million), which is funded directly by the Mayor of London. Details were provided on the purpose and allocation of each grant, including the Pupil Premium Grant, which aims to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils, and the PE and Sports Premium, intended for sustainable improvements to physical education and sport.

High Needs Block Update

This report provided an update on the work of the High Needs Funding Working Group, a subgroup of the Schools Forum. The group's purpose is to review the impact of current high needs funding allocations and develop new approaches to delivering better value and outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The group includes representation from headteachers, special schools, pupil referral units, early years providers, and parent carers, alongside local authority officers. The update from the January 2024 meeting detailed the commissioned numbers and core top-up rates for specialist provision in 2024/25, including figures for special schools such as Newbridge, Hatchside, Little Heath, and Hatton, as well as Additional Resource Provisions (ARPs) within mainstream schools. The report also provided an overview of early interventions in 2023/24 and proposed funding for 2024/25, including the Verbo Speech and Language tool, Early Years Transition Support, and the 5 P's Approach.

Work Plan and Dates of Future Meetings

The forum was scheduled to agree its work plan and dates for future meetings. The planned meetings were for Thursday 4 July 2024 and Tuesday 8 October 2024.

Matters Arising

The report pack included a table detailing changes in pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) and changes in the number of pupils on roll (NOR) from 2023-24 to 2024-25. It noted that there did not appear to be a direct correlation between the decrease in FSM-eligible pupils and the Mayor's offer for free school meals, although some individual schools showed variations that might indicate an impact from the universal offer.