Purpose

To update Cabinet on the revised High Needs
Block sustainability plan, submitted to the Department for
Education in December and set it in the context of the School's
Block Transfer.

Content

Resolved:
 

1.   
That Cabinet endorse the draft revised plan
submitted to the DfE in December, including the new timeline and
the interventions set out within it.
 
That
Cabinet approve:
 

2.   
The Corporate Director for Children and
Education, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Members, to
seek agreement for the revised plan from the Department for
Education.

 

3.   
An adjustment to the Plan which was submitted to the DfE in January 2024,
and revised in December 2024, to request a block transfer of the
maximum amount that can be transferred without impacting school
budgets (estimated at 0.24%)
 
 
Reason for Decision:
Delivery of the SEND Sustainability Plan is vital to removing
the DSG deficit, and related financial risk, from the council and
bringing DSG into an in year balance
position. Having a realistic plan, over seven years, enables the
authority to do this is a structured way that does not compromise
on the quality of support given to children and young people with
SEND.
 
Delivery of the plan relies on schools and headteachers working
effectively with the local authority and continuing to build a more
sustainable system. Given the strength of feeling over the
School’s Block transfer, and the uncertainty about whether a
request for a 1% transfer would be granted by the Secretary of
State without Schools Forum approval, it is felt that maintaining
the relationships with schools is paramount and a change required
to that assumed and included previously.