The Bexley Schools Forum met on Monday 11 November 2024 to discuss the 2025-26 Schools Block, the Safety Valve programme, and the preparation of central budgets for 2025-26. A key decision was made to defer the approval of a 0.5% transfer from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block until the next meeting, due to a lack of clarity on financial details and key performance indicators.

2025-26 Schools Block

The Forum was informed that Bexley proposes to align its funding formula with the national funding formula (NFF) for the 2025-26 academic year, subject to affordability. A request will be made to transfer 0.5% of the Schools Block to the High Needs Block, which will be discussed further. The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed that the current formula factors will remain the same for the upcoming year. Changes for 2025-26 include the exclusion of the PFI factor from the Minimum Funding Guarantee calculation and the rolling of several grants, including the Teachers Pay Additional Grant and Teachers Pension Employer Contribution Grant, into the Schools Block. Funding for Birkbeck Primary School's final year of growth in 2025-26 is also proposed. A formal decision on this matter will be sought at the January meeting.

Safety Valve Update

Officers provided an update on the Safety Valve programme, highlighting significant progress in implementing initiatives. This includes the expansion of Shenstone School and Parkway School, the launch of an outreach project from Marlborough School to support mainstream schools, and successful learner repatriations from independent settings. The Supported Internships programme for post-16 students has also seen positive outcomes, with young people gaining paid employment.

Early intervention initiatives have shown positive impacts. For example, the FRIENDS resiliency programme and ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) interventions have reported progress in children's emotional well-being. The Key Stage 1 Talk Boost intervention has demonstrated improvements in speech, language, and communication skills, although challenges were noted regarding its suitability for reception-aged children and the need for more support for older pupils. Feedback from schools indicated that while the interventions were generally well-received, adaptations were needed for younger children and more support for those with complex needs.

A new Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN) offer for secondary schools, Secondary Language Link, is set to be introduced in January 2025. This programme aims to identify and support students with language and communication needs, with Assistant Educational Psychologists delivering targeted interventions.

High Needs Block Update and Request for Block Transfer 2025/26

The Forum reviewed the financial pressures within the high needs block, noting a projected overshoot of the 2024/25 budget. Officers explained that this was due to increased costs in special school top-up funding, additional pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) in mainstream settings, and expenditure on tuition, personal budgets, and alternative provisions. The DfE's regulations regarding the recharge of SEN personal transport budgets also contributed to the overspend.

The Forum was requested to approve a 0.5% transfer from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block for 2025/26. However, due to a lack of clarity around financials and key performance indicators (KPIs), the decision was deferred to the next meeting on 13 January 2025. Discussions also touched upon out-of-borough special school spend, personal budgets, transport costs, and the impact of parental factors on emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA).

Preparation of Central Budgets 2025/26

The Forum was presented with proposals for the 2025/26 central schools service block funding. Officers clarified that costs previously associated with educational psychologists would now be funded from the Council's core budget, with no reduction in support for schools. Revisions to allocations for Education Welfare and System Leadership were explained, including increased costs related to attendance following new DfE guidance and the creation of a new Child Missing Education Manager post.

Maintained sector representatives were asked to approve contributions of £25.80 per mainstream pupil and £127.28 per special school place for 2025/26 to support statutory services. This decision was put to a vote, with 13 members voting for and none against.

Further discussions addressed the funding for the Strategic Education Partnership and the ongoing reduction in historic commitments funding for early intervention services. The Forum also considered the maintained schools' contribution towards the Council's statutory responsibilities for the maintained sector, with a vote of 2 for, 1 against, and 0 abstentions on the proposed contributions.

Updates were also provided on pupil numbers, with officers continuing to verify figures for a verbal update. Concerns were raised about data accuracy regarding vacant spaces at resourced provisions.