Agenda and decisions

West Northamptonshire Schools Forum - Wednesday 14th February 2024 2.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, The Forum, Moat Lane, Towcester, NN12 6AD

Contact: James Edmunds Email: democraticservices@westnorthants.gov.uk

Items
No.	Item
1.	Apologies for absence and Forum Membership Changes
2.	Declarations of Interest Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.
3.	Minutes PDF 108 KB To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2023. Decision: RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2023 were agreed as an accurate record.
4.	Election of Vice-Chair for 2023-24 Decision: RESOLVED: that Peter French be elected as Vice-Chair of West Northamptonshire Schools Forum for 2023-24.
5.	Early Years Funding 2024-25 PDF 223 KB Outcome of consultation and final proposals Rehana Karim / Beth Baines Additional documents: Appendix A , item 5. PDF 243 KB Decision: RESOLVED: · That Schools Forum agreed that 95% of 3-and-4-year-old funding would be paid to providers and 5% retained centrally. · That Schools Forum recommended to West Northamptonshire Council that any underspend on the Early Years block be re-distributed to providers. · That Schools Forum agreed in an indicative vote that: o The proposed Early years rates for 2024-25 as outlined in Appendix A be approved. o 100% of the under 2-year-old funding would be paid to providers. o 100% of the 2-year-old funding would be paid to providers. o The targeted SEND funding (EY SENIF) hourly rate would be increased by 25%.
6.	2023-24 DSG Monitoring PDF 124 KB Emily Cooledge Decision: RESOLVED: that Schools Forum noted the forecast outturn position for 2023-24.
7.	DSG Funding Update 2024-25 PDF 105 KB Emily Cooledge Decision: RESOLVED: that Schools Forum noted the final funding settlement and high needs budgets for 2024-25.
8.	WNC Budget Proposals 2024-25 Emily Cooledge – verbal update Decision: RESOLVED: that Schools Forum noted the overview of the Budget Proposals 2024-25.
9.	High Needs Project update PDF 265 KB Andy Pymm Additional documents: High Needs Project Update_AppxA , item 9. PDF 2 MB Decision: RESOLVED: that Schools Forum supported the proposed changes to West Northamptonshire Council’s SEND funding processes for top up (element 3) as set out in the report but asked that further consideration be given to extending the two-year limit on targeted SEND funding, that Targeted SEND funding for SEND Range 3 be included for top up funding, and payment protection (similar to a minimum funding guarantee) for providers with payment reductions due to starters and leavers having different RAS scores. .
10.	Forward Plan Standing items (if required) · DSG Monitoring · DfE / ESFA Funding announcements · School Budgets · High Needs · Early Years · National Funding Formula May 2024 Election of Chair for 2024-25 Election of Vice Chair for 2024-25 Administrative arrangements for allocation of central government grants July 2024 DSG Provisional Outturn including carry forward requests and school balances Schools Funding 2025-26 consultation– process and timelines Early Years Funding 2025-26 consultation– process and timelines October 2024 Schools Funding 2025-26 – consultation proposals December 2024 Schools Funding 2025-26 – outcome of consultation and final proposals – votes required on individual items. Early Years Funding 2025-26 – consultation proposals February 2025 Early Years Funding 2025-26 – outcome of consultation and consideration of final proposals, including vote on central expenditure. WNC Budget Proposals 2025-26 Schools Forum meeting dates 2025-26 Proposed Schools Forum meeting dates for 2024-25 Tuesday 14 May 2024 Tuesday 2 July 2024 Tuesday 22 October 2024 Wednesday 11 December 2024 Tuesday 4 February 2025 Tuesday 20 May 2025 Decision: RESOLVED: that Schools Forum noted the latest version of the Forum Plan including the proposed meeting dates for 2024-25.