Content

See the report at Agenda Item 3, page 10,
presented by Anna Hesed, Head of Strategic Finance, and Abdirizak
Hussein, Finance Manager
 
The following points were presented to Schools
Forum
 
An update on the DSG spending forecast by
block against budget for 24/25 and the impact on the DSG
Reserve.
An update on the Safety Valve programme.
Review of the DSG Funding by block for 25/26
based on the October 2024 census noting that final funding figures
will be based on the January 2025 census at section 3, page 11, of
the report.
Reviewed the council’s proposals for
setting the 2025/26 budget at section 4, page 12 of the report.
Reviewed the application of Falling Rolls
Funding set out at section 4.3, page13, of the report.
Reviewed the Central Services block
allocation
Reviewed the Early years  and SENIF funding allocation
 
Resolved:
 
Schools Forum noted:
 
1.   
The principles of the Hounslow schools funding formula for 2025/26
as proposed by the Council and set out in section 4.1.
2.   
The 2025/26 factor values as set out in Appendix 1 and the
provisional funding allocations for each school set out in Appendix
2
3.   
The Council does not propose to set a growth fund for 2025/26
4.   
The 2025/26 provisional High Needs budget of £78.93M proposed
by the Council
5.   
The projected deficit against the DSG reserve as at 31 March
2025
 
Schools Forum agreed:
 
1.   
The Council’s proposal to set the 2025/26 the AWPU at the NFF
AWPU rate including area cost adjustmentby 12 votes.
2.   
The Council’s proposal to set the 2025/26 budget for Falling
Rolls fund of £467k as set out in section 4.3.7 of the report
published as part of the reports pack and the confirmation of the
two further schools subsequently identified as eligible by 12 votes
for the proposal, no votes against and non
abstained.
3.   
The Council’s proposal to set the Minimum Funding Guarantee
at 0% for 2025/26 as set out in paragraph 4.4.7 of the report by 12
votes for the proposal, no votes against and non abstained.
4.   
The Council’s proposal to transfer £658k from the
Schools Block to the HN Block by 9 votes for the proposal, 1 vote
against the proposal and 2 abstained.
5.   
The Council’s proposals for allocation from the 2025/26
Central School Services Block to fund the delivery of the functions
set out in section 4 of the report published with the agenda by 12
votes for the proposal, no votes against and non abstained.
6.   
The Council’s recommended hour rates for 2025/26
·      
Under 2-year olds £13.31
·      
2-year olds £9.74
·      
3 & 4-year olds £6.40
·      
Deprivation supplement £0.26
7.   
The Council’s proposed revision of the process for
distributing Special Education Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF) Early
Years bands 0-3, with the proposed process set out section 8.9, of
the report, page 36.
 
The maintained
school representatives agreed:
8.   
The de-delegation of budget as set out in sections 5 and 6 of the
report for:
1.   
Statutory School Improvement service budget £307,366 by 6
votes for the proposal, no votes against and non abstained.
2.   
Support Services proposed to be charged to Maintained School Budget
Shares £679,593 by 6 votes for the proposal, no votes against
and non abstained.