The Haringey Schools Forum meeting scheduled for 11 January 2024 was set to cover a range of financial and operational matters concerning schools within the borough. Key discussions were expected to include updates on the Education Welfare Service, the allocation of the Dedicated Schools Grant for the upcoming academic year, and the use of the Growth Fund.

Education Welfare Service Update

The meeting was scheduled to receive an update on the Education Welfare Service (EWS), including a funding paper. This was followed by a separate agenda item dedicated to the EWS, which was intended to provide an overview of the 2024/25 consultation responses and lead to a determination on the schools' funding formula for that year. The report on the EWS highlighted that school attendance rates had increased since the 2018-19 academic year, with a significant rise in persistently absent pupils. The report also detailed work undertaken by the service, including engagement with the Department for Education (DfE) and efforts to recruit a permanent service lead. The proposed core offer for schools from April 2024 was outlined, with the caveat that this level of support would be contingent on the allocation of additional funding from the Central Schools Services Block (CSSB). The DfE guidance on Working Together to Improve School Attendance was referenced, outlining the responsibilities of parents, schools, academy trusts, governing bodies, and local authorities in ensuring school attendance.

Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) and Schools Block Funding Model Strategy

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for 2024/25 and the strategy for the Schools Block Funding Model. The latest DSG allocations for 2024/25 were to be presented, showing an overall increase in the total DSG, largely driven by a substantial rise in the Early Years block allocation. The Schools block allocation was also set to increase, although a detailed analysis indicated a net loss to the local authority when accounting for the mainstream school additional grant (MSAG) being rolled into the DSG.

The meeting was also to consider the results of the consultation on the 2024-25 Haringey primary and secondary schools DSG funding formula. The report recommended adopting Model 1 as the only affordable option, which aligns with the National Funding Formula (NFF). Key decisions were to be made regarding block transfers: a 0.50% transfer from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block (HNB) to support the Safety Valve Programme, a £0.122m transfer to the CSSB for Education Welfare Services, and a £0.060m transfer to the Early Years block for split-site nursery funding. The Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) was proposed to be set between +0.46% and +0.50%. De-delegation for Trade Union Representation for maintained schools was also to be agreed. A disapplication request had been submitted to the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for block transfers exceeding 0.5%.

The consultation responses indicated a preference for Model 2 among schools, but this model was deemed unaffordable due to its significant cost and the requirement for a negative MFG, necessitating a disapplication request. The report detailed the proposed allocations for various categories, including the Growth Fund, Trade Union Representation, and block transfers to CSSB and the Early Years block. A note was made regarding a census error for St Aidens Primary School, which would be supported from the Growth Fund. A separate disapplication request was also noted for the High Needs Block to retain £412k for special school top-ups and re-banding.

Update on the Use of the Growth Fund

An update on the Growth Fund for 2023-24 was scheduled, with a projected unspent balance of £149,295. The recommendation was to distribute this unused fund back to schools in March 2024, calculated at £4.55 per child based on the October 2023 census data. The report also outlined the estimated costs for the 2024-25 Growth Fund, including projected allocations for secondary bulge funding and infant class over-size funding. The formula for Growth Fund allocations was detailed, which includes an Age Weighted Pupil Unit (AWPU) calculation and a set-up allocation per pupil.

Forum Membership and Working Parties

The meeting was also to review the membership of the Schools Forum, noting any changes since the previous meeting. Updates were expected from various working parties, including the Early Years, High Needs, and School's Block working parties. The minutes from the Early Years working party indicated discussions on options for an underspend and positive feedback on recent events. The High Needs Working Party had been reviewing models from other Local Authorities in the context of the Safety Valve Programme, with a direction to be agreed by February 2024. The School's Block Working Party's efforts had culminated in the funding formula consultation.

Meeting Dates and Work Plan

Finally, the meeting was to confirm future meeting dates for the remainder of the 2023-2024 academic year and review the work plan.