The Schools Forum met on Tuesday 16 January 2024 to discuss and make decisions on the mainstream schools budget for the 2024/25 academic year and the funding allocations for early years provision in the same year. Key decisions included the submission of the Authority Proforma Tool for the 2024/25 schools budget, the transfer of funds from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block, and the agreement on de-delegation budgets and education functions for maintained schools. The forum also noted the draft Early Years budget for 2024/25, which includes revised base rates and local formulas for various entitlements.

Schools Block Mainstream Schools Budget 2024/25

The Schools Forum agreed to submit the January 2024 Authority Proforma Tool (APT) to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for the 2024/25 schools budget share. This submission is based on revised uplifted National Funding Formula (NFF) rates and a Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) value of 0.5% per pupil. Two versions of the model will be agreed, pending a decision from the Department for Education (DfE) on a request to transfer 1% of the Schools Block to the High Needs Block.

The forum agreed to a proposal to transfer 0.5% of the total Schools Block to the High Needs Block for 2024/25, which equates to £0.588m. If the DfE approves the request for a 1% transfer, this would be £1.177m.

A proposed correction for a baseline funding error for one maintained primary school was noted. A disapplication request has been submitted to the DfE to modify the Minimum Funding Guarantee allocation for this school, which would result in £0.149m of funding being allocated across all schools within the recommended model.

Maintained school representatives agreed to the proposed 2024/25 de-delegation budget of £0.622m and the proposed 2024/25 Education Functions budget of £0.307m.

The Schools Forum also agreed to the proposed Central Services School Block budget allocations for 2024/25.

The overall funding allocation for Hammersmith and Fulham mainstream schools in 2024/25 has decreased by 0.28% compared to 2023/24, primarily due to a fall in pupil numbers. However, the funding per pupil has increased year on year. The report highlighted that the H&F per pupil unit of funding has increased by 4.86% for the primary phase and 3.86% for the secondary phase.

The forum also discussed the falling rolls funding, noting that the ESFA has introduced new criteria for its allocation. Hammersmith and Fulham does not meet the mandatory requirement for future school places, therefore it is proposed that this funding is included within the general Schools Block allocation.

Early Years Funding 2024/25

The Schools Forum noted the draft 2024/25 Early Years budget for consultation, which includes revised base rates, deprivation supplements, and local formulas for the 2-year-old and under-2-year-old offers. This budget covers the extended entitlements for working parents of two-year-old children and children from age 9 months.

The report detailed the eight funding streams within the Early Years Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), with a focus on the four free early years entitlements. These include the universal entitlement for 3 and 4-year-olds, additional hours for working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds, and new entitlements for disadvantaged 2-year-olds and working parents of 2-year-olds and children aged 9 months to 2 years.

The hourly funding rates for 2024/25 were outlined: £8.71 per hour for the universal and extended 3 and 4-year-old offers, £11.30 per hour for the disadvantaged and working parent 2-year-old offers, and £15.41 per hour for the new working parent offer for children aged 9 months to 2 years. The report also detailed the proposed breakdown of these rates, including base rates, deprivation supplements, and funding for the SEN Inclusion Fund.

The initial Early Years allocations for 2024/25 total £18.456m, based on January 2023 census figures and DfE estimates for new offers. These allocations will be revised in July 2024 and July 2025 to account for updated census data.

The report also covered the extension of eligibility for the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) and the Disability Access Fund (DAF) to the new offers. Maintained Nursery Schools will receive supplementary funding, with an estimated initial allocation of £1,014,281 for 2024/25.

Consultation on the draft budget will be carried out with maintained nursery schools, primary schools with nurseries, PVI providers, and childminders in late January and early February. Final proposals will be presented to the March Schools Forum, with the key budget decision to be progressed by the Local Authority at the March Cabinet.