Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the DSG Safety Valve report.

Sal Thirlway presented the DSG Safety Valve report.  He pointed out that assumptions had been made in relation to the figures presented in the report and that this was a ‘work in progress’ document.

The Safety Valve Programme was a programme being developed by the DfE and the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for those local authorities with a high level of deficit in their DSG, due to pressures in the HNB.

The programme involved an assessment of the situation and how the local authority proposed to address the challenges and plan for the future.

A programme of improvement had been set out, looking at short, medium and long term strategies and planning; to continue to support the children and address the deficit.

A range of partners were being engaged in the development of the Safety Valve. 

Over the last three years, the focus had been on improving the outcomes for young people, by delivering the improvements that were needed.  The focus and challenge now was on sustaining good outcomes, and at the same time addressing the deficit and finding a sustainable future.

During the discussion of the item the following comments were made:

·           Sal Thirlway stated that the Safety Valve priorities aligned with the priorities already identified by the SEND IIP;

·           There were working groups working on each of the SEND IIP strategic priorities.  The intention was to align the Safety Valve with the work which was already taking place, build on and continue the engagement and co-production with partners;

·           In response to a question, Sal Thirlway stated that the involvement of Schools Forum was extremely important, given the implications on the DSG and HNB funding.  He suggested adding a Safety Valve update as a standing item in Schools Forum’s agendas;

·           Councillor Bray, Executive Member for Children’s Services explained that the Safety Valve was a mechanism to deliver the priorities that had already been identified by the service, it was not a separate initiative.  She emphasised that partnership working was essential to the delivery and success of the programme;

·           It was agreed that it was important to keep leaders informed on the development of the Safety Valve, not just at Schools Forum and the Wokingham Education Partnership, but also at other leaders’ sessions;

·           Helen Watson, Director for Children’s Services endorsed the previous comments and emphasised that this was a collective piece of work.  She stated that Sal Thirlway, Prue Bray and herself were open to hold conversations outside of the meeting too;

·           Carol Simpson noted the ambition to balance the books by 2027/28 and asked when Schools Forum would be provided with the numbers;

·           Sal Thirlway explained that there would be a meeting with the ESFA and discussions would follow to get an agreement on the way forward.  He anticipated that it could take two to three months to get a formal agreement, but he hoped to be able to state the position earlier than that, Schools Forum would be kept informed;

·           Sara Attra endorsed the initiative, however she  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9