Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: February 5, 2025

Purpose: - revised approach to funding and rates of High Needs Pupils in special units and mainstream schools - update on the Delivering Better Value programme - - approval in principle of Schools funding formula (final figures to be confirmed in February MTFS paper) - new approach to management of schools in deficit

Content: Cabinet   1)     Noted the update on the Dedicated Schools Grant Funding for 2025-26 in section 1 2)     Approved the topslicing of £0.430m from the Schools Block for Growth and Falling Rolls as set out in paragraph 2.4 3)     Approved the transfer of £1.290m from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block as set out in paragraph 2.5 4)     Approved the use of the national funding factors, a Minimum Funding Guarantee of 0% and capping of 0.85% in the Havering Local Schools Funding Formula 5)     Noted the increase in the Early Years Block as a result of the expansion of funded childcare for younger children as set out in section 3 6)     Delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Education to approve the rate(s) per hour of childcare in line with approach outlined in section 3 after consultation with providers and schools forum 7)     Noted that there are a number of Havering Maintained Schools that are in overall deficit position and that these schools are required to draw up and implement plans to recover this position as set out in section 5 8)     Noted the update on the projected deficit on the High Needs Block and the Delivering Better Value Programme as set out in sections 6 and 7 9)     Approved an increase in the funding of Special Units in mainstream schools to £30,000 per place from September 2024 as set out in section 8 10)Approved an increase in the base hourly rate of top up payments for additional support in mainstream schools to £19 an hour from September 2024 as set out in section 9