Agenda item

Matters Arising Update

Minutes:

Insurance for maintained schools

Lynne Samuel, Senior Finance Specialist stated that the insurance arrangements for maintained schools had been revised for the 2021/22 financial year and was no longer a de-delegated item.  She pointed out that the Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA) was offered by the Department for Education (DfE) and the Council was not able to offer a cheaper option through its commercial arrangements.

 

Lynne Samuel stated that insurance previously funded through the de-delegated route has been rolled together with contents insurance to offer a ‘core’ offer to maintained schools.  This had not altered the insurance options available to schools in any way but had allowed a per pupil charging basis.  Pupil numbers used were as per the October 2020 census.

 

Lynne Samuel stated that passing on the actual charge would have offered a per pupil cost to the 2021/22 financial year of around £38, a slight reduction for most schools on current equivalent charge, but still a higher cost than if schools chose to join the RPA.  If a significant number of schools choose an alternative insurance, this will have financial implications for the Council, since the current contract runs until 2023.  In view of this, an agreement has been reached so that a lower cost would be offered to schools, with the Council effectively subsidising the rate for the next two years through the use of insurance reserves.  A charge of £26 per pupils has been set for the new ‘core’ insurance offer.  Whilst this is still higher than the RPA, is hoped that this gives schools a more cost effective offer, particularly where they value the support of the Council on insurance matters.  It was not yet known how many schools were going to take up the Council’s insurance, but it looked likely to be 50% of schools.

 

The Chairman expressed concern that the Council’s insurance would be out of funds until 2023, he recommended that an effort be made to at least recover some of the funds to be paid to the insurance company.  Lynne Samuel agreed to look at options around this issue.

 

School Admissions Task and Finish Group

Sal Thirlway, Assistant Director Learning Achievement and Partnerships stated that the first meeting had taken place and the Terms of Reference had been agreed with minor tweaks.  He would circulate the Terms of Reference to Schools Forum members.

 

The work programme was being developed and would include a timeline of the cyclical work undertaken by school admissions and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) process for school admissions arrangements.

 

Sal Thirlway stated that a review of the Fair Access Protocol was currently being undertaken and a consultation was open for comments until 12 April.

 

Sal Thirlway informed that a School Admissions and School Transport Manager had recently been appointed.

 

SEND Strategy

The Chairman stated that questions in relation to the SEND Strategy had been collated and sent to Children’s Services.  Sal Thirlway acknowledged receipt of the questions and would be circulating the answers to Schools Forum.

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