The Schools' Forum of Tameside Council met on Monday 17 June 2024 to discuss the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) outturn for 2023-24, the budget update for 2024-25, and various funding mechanisms for schools. Key decisions included the approval of the proposed forward plan for 2024-25 and the endorsement of the Early Years funding arrangements.

Dedicated Schools Grant Outturn 2023-24 and Budget Update 2024-25

The forum reviewed the Dedicated Schools Grant Outturn 2023-24 and Budget Update 2024-25. Members were informed about the financial performance of the DSG for the previous year and the budgetary provisions for the upcoming year. The report highlighted the financial pressures and the measures taken to address them.

School Balances

The forum considered the School Balances report, which included a review of the school balance mechanism scheme. The report detailed the financial status of individual schools and the overall financial health of the school sector within the council. Members approved the report and the proposed mechanism for managing school balances.

Early Years Funding 2024-25

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the Early Years funding arrangements for 2024-25. The forum reviewed the funding settlements and the outcomes of a recent consultation on Early Years funding. The hourly rate of funding for 3 and 4-year-olds increased by £0.25, bringing the combined rate to £5.62 for both universal and extended entitlement. The base rate for all children in all settings was proposed to increase from £4.49 to £5.00 per hour.

The forum also discussed the mandatory supplementary rates for deprivation, rurality/sparsity, flexibility, quality, and English as an additional language (EAL). It was noted that these supplementary rates could not exceed 12% of the overall funding within this block. The Teachers’ Pay and Pension Grant (TPPG) was also addressed, with proposals to hold the hourly rate at £0.23 and to roll additional funding into the base funding for all hours delivered.

Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF)

The forum discussed the continued pressure on the SEN Inclusion Fund for 3 and 4-year-olds and proposed an increase to £0.700m. For disadvantaged 2-year-olds, the fund would be held at £0.066m. The hourly rate of funding for 2-year-olds increased to £7.96, and the proposed hourly base rate for both 2-year-old entitlements was set at £7.37.

New Entitlement for Working Parents

Members were reminded of the new entitlement for working parents of children aged 9 months up to 2 years old, effective from September 2024. This entitlement would provide up to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year, with an hourly rate of funding set at £10.86. The proposed hourly base rate for this entitlement was £10.12.

Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) and Disability Access Fund (DAF)

The allocation rates for the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) and Disability Access Fund (DAF) were discussed. The EYPP rate increased to £0.68 per hour per eligible pupil, and the DAF rate increased to £910. These allocations were extended to children 2 years old and under as part of the new entitlements.

Schools Forum Forward Plan 2024-25

The forum approved the Schools Forum Forward Plan 2024-25, which outlined the meeting dates and reports for the financial year. Key dates included meetings in September 2024, November 2024, and January 2025, with various reports scheduled for noting and approval.

Any Other Business

A request from the Early Years Private, Voluntary, and Independent (PVI) sector to appoint an additional representative to the Schools' Forum was discussed. It was agreed that this would be raised and followed up in the Early Years Working Group.