Agenda item

To consider a report containing financial information in relation to the High Needs Block.

Coral Miller presented the 2018/19 High Needs Block Budget report which was set out in agenda pages 31- 34.

Coral Miller stated that the application to the Secretary of State to approve the application to transfer 0.5% from the Schools Block to the NHB had been rejected.  This decision meant that the funds available to the HNB for 2018/19 were reduced by £498k on that previously assumed, and significantly increased the challenge to delivering a balanced budget for the coming year.  Coral informed that as far as she was aware the Secretary of State had rejected all such applications from all other Local Authorities.

Coral Miller drew attention to the information in appendix A, which showed that savings of £2.4m were needed to show a balanced budget.  Coral informed that Steve Nyakatawa, SEN Consultant was going to be working to achieve the savings that were necessary.

Coral Miller assured Schools Forum that Officers and elected Members were aware of the situation and were looking at the options.

Councillor Clark stated that in turning down the Local Authority’s application, the Secretary of State said that they were prepared to talk, and a meeting was being organised to discuss the possibilities.

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

·           Emma Clark stated that the number of children needing special education was due to increase.  She stated that where primary schools were able to support, with difficulty, some children with special needs, she knew that these children would not be able to cope in mainstream secondary schools, and they would need special provision;

·           Sara Attra stated that her school had taken five or six children over its allocated number without base funding, and that other special schools in the Borough were also full to capacity;

·           In response to a question Patricia Davies stated that Steve Nyakatawa was the senior leader for SEN and that he would be looking at provisions and how to improve;

·           Ginny Rhodes expressed concern that Steve Nyakatawa was holding an interim post and she worried about continuity plans;

·           Jay Blundell raised the issue of Foundry College’s capacity.  She worried that there was no reflection in the Budget of the need to expand Foundry College’s provision.  She stated that she had 56 children on roll and was funded for 47, and the trend was for the numbers to increase.  Also, Foundry College was taking children that should be at special schools without receiving the top slice for these children.  There was a lack of physical space and staff to be able to cope with the demand;

·           Councillor Clark congratulated Jay Blundell on the outstanding Ofsted report and on the work provided by Foundry College.  She stated that she had discussed the issue with Paul Senior, Interim Director of People Services and assured Jay that elected Members were aware of the situation and were looking at options;

·           Ben Gobbler stated that it was important to involve representatives from schools, such as Jay Blundel in the process of talking to the Secretary of State and senior leaders, as the argument would be more compelling;

·           Emma Clarke stated that the governors from her school had written many emails to Piers Brunning, Senior Specialist (People and Place) Strategy Commissioning, but had not received a response.  Councillor Clarke asked that this email be sent to her;

·           Paul Miller pointed out that a large sum from the HNB went to fund Out of Borough placements;

·           Patricia Davies confirmed that there were not enough specialist provisions within the Borough;

·           In response to a question Patricia Davies stated that the Resource Space Review had been submitted to the Lead Member and the senior leadership team and was going to go out for consultation.  She informed that the schools that had been involved in the review had been positive about the suggestions contained in the report;

·           Patricia Davies pointed out that there was only one secondary school within the Borough with specialist provision, and this was going to be full from September, the situation was challenging;

·           Members of the Forum believed that the HNB Task and Finish Group would not be able to find a solution for the next financial year.  It was believed that it would take two to three years to achieve a solution;

·           Members pointed out that children that were in Out of Borough placements were unlikely to come back to provisions within the Borough;

·           Emma Clark asked if the Local Authority held data around the number of children currently attending primary schools who were likely to need special provisions when they reached secondary school age.  Patricia Davies would raise this question with Steve Nyakatawa;

·           Paul Miller asked that this issue be raised at the Task and Finish Group.

Paul Miller asked Coral Miller and Councillor Clark if there was anything that Schools Forum could do to help.  Coral stated that firstly she had to wait for the outcome of the meeting with the Secretary of State.

RESOLVED That the report be noted.