Agenda item

To receive and consider the HNB/ DSG Management Plan and Safety Valve Update.

Sal Thirlway explained that the Designated Schools Grant (DSG) Management Plan and the Safety Valve were essentially the same plan.  However, the continuation of the Safety Valve was dependent on the Council being able to reach an agreement with the Department for Education (DfE).

Jonathan Wilding, Programme Manager SEND presented the report and highlighted the following points:

·           Wokingham was one of a number of local authorities with a significant deficit in the High Needs Block (HNB);

·           The first meeting of the Safety Valve took place in October, when an initial management plan was presented to the DfE;

·           There had been differing opinions between Wokingham and the DfE with regards to the growth in demand projections.  The DfE believed that Wokingham’s projections were overly pessimistic.  Consequently, the projections were readjusted, but even with the more optimistic projection (lower rate of growth in demand), a still significant growth was anticipated;

·           Mitigation focussed on:

o   Demand reduction – support for SENCOs, early intervention

o   Demand management

o   Cost management

o   SEND sufficiency

o   Cessation of plans and planning for adulthood

·           There were currently 17 different work streams being developed;

·           There had been a meeting with the DfE in early December, where progress had been made and a proposal was presented.  However, there was still some work to be undertaken to address an in-year deficit of between £2.6 million - £3.8 million by the end of the five year period (2027-28);

·           Discussions were underway with WBC Health team to support the mitigation arrangements, especially in relation to early intervention;

·           A Vulnerable Learners Panel was being piloted – this was to address short term financial support needs at an early stage (potentially reducing the need for escalation to an application for an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP));

·           Review of banding framework – currently there was no clear and consistent methodology in the levels of plans.  The plan was to work with schools to agree the levels of plans to avoid the need for top-ups.

Jonathan Wilding informed that the Council was asking the DfE to agree to a five or six year plan, as it was unachievable to reach a balanced Budget in three years as they had proposed.

The Chairman asked what were the direct implications for the 2023/24 Budget and what was the trajectory of the Budget before 2027/28.  Jonathan Wilding explained that most of the more immediate impact was in relation to early intervention, improved and enhanced outreach offer.  Creating more capacity within the borough would take more time to achieve.  The opening of Oaktree School would start to have an impact from September 2023.

In response to a question, Jonathan Wilding explained that a lot of the short term work was in relation to suppressing demand, any significant decrease in the deficit would be seen at a later stage in the plan.  Creating more provision in the borough would require investment – invest to save.  He emphasized that it was important not to cut back on essential services as this could backfire.

RESOLVED That the report be noted.