Meeting documents

To consider this report.

The Committee considered this report that was supplemented with a very thorough presentation. Members heard that remained significant financial pressures within Schools. It was reported that since 2010 funding reductions to Children’s and Adult services budgets were estimated to range from 25% to 54% and this was against a back drop of increases in statutory functions and regulatory control.

It was explained that Schools were funded from the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). Within the grant there were 4 distinct allocations of funding known as Blocks: Early Years, central schools, schools and high needs. School funding remained governed by the Schools and Early years finance regulations(find) and locally was allocated by the Schools Forum and the Local Authority, with Council oversight.

Members heard that with effect from 2019/20 the Department for Education (DfE) would require all Councils to set out their plans for bringing the DSG account back into balance. The DfE would require a report from any Council that has a DSG deficit of more than 1% of its gross DSG as at 31st March 2019. This report would need to be discussed with the Schools Forum and set out the authority’s plans for bringing the DSG back into balance within 3 years across all blocks. In Somerset it was noted the gross DSG for 2018/19 had been £368.988m, equal to 1.57%, meaning it might be necessary for a plan to be returned to the DfE.

It was explained that the High needs budget for 2018/19 had been set at £45,982,719 with a projected outturn of £48,917,969, meaning an in year overspend projected at £2,935,250, approximately 6% over budget. Although still high this represented a reduction from 11.5% in 2017/18 and this was mainly due to transfers between blocks. In Somerset the cumulative deficit 2017/18 had been £5,620,150. For 2018/19 (with projected outturn) this would increase to £8,555,400, this would mean a final High needs deficit projected at £6,350,400, an increase in year of £730,250.

Members were remined that the 2016-2019 Somerset SEND Strategy for children and young people aged 0-25 had 5 key outcomes: Our families, children and young people report a positive experience of our SEND systems and support, feel empowered and confident to engage and make decisions; Timely and accurate identification and assessment of SEND across education, health and care services; Inclusive and equitable access to good quality local education; Smooth and effective transitions happen at key points for the child and young person; and Creative partnership working delivers effective, fair and transparent systems and services, and an update was provided on the progress made in each of those key areas.

It was requested that the weblink to the Schools Forum website be circulated to Members and the report was accepted.