The Schools Funding Forum met to discuss the proposed funding formula for schools and academies for the 2024-25 academic year. Key topics included the allocation of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), the de-delegation of central services, and specific funding streams such as High Needs and Early Years.

Schools Funding Formula 2024-25

The forum was scheduled to consider recommendations for the 2024-25 schools funding formula. This included adopting national funding formula rates with a minimum funding guarantee of 0.50% per pupil and a gains cap of 2.50%. A proposal was also to be discussed for transferring £1,188,080 (0.50%) from the DSG Schools Block to the DSG High Needs Block. Additionally, £146,444 of the DSG Schools Block was proposed for use to support pupil growth and falling rolls. The report detailed how Havering's total allocation for 2024-25, excluding funding for growth, had increased by £8.31m (3.66%) compared to the previous year, with an increase in pupil numbers accounting for £3.81m of this. The report also outlined the number of schools subject to the Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) and the gains cap under different scenarios.

De-delegation of Central Services for 2024-25

The meeting was set to discuss the de-delegation of funding for central services for LA maintained primary and special schools for 2024-25. This included a proposal to de-delegate funding for Core school improvement activities. The report indicated that this funding was to generate 50% of the total Department for Education (DfE) grant that had been withdrawn, with the service provided remaining unchanged from the current year. The rate proposed for de-delegation was £5.11 per pupil for primary schools and £15.33 per place for special schools.

Treatment of Mainstream Schools Additional Grant, Teachers' Pay Additional Grant and Pupil Premium 2024-25

The forum was to be provided with details on the treatment of the Mainstream Schools Additional Grant (MSAG) for 2024-25, which had been rolled into the main funding formula and would no longer be paid separately. The report also outlined the funding rates for the Teachers' Pay Additional Grant (TPAG) and the Pupil Premium for 2024-25. For TPAG, funding rates were detailed per pupil for primary and KS3/KS4, along with lump sum and Free School Meals (FSM) eligibility figures. The report also presented the increased funding rates for the Pupil Premium for 2024-25 for FSM6 pupils, looked-after children, and service children.

High Needs Funding 2024-25

This agenda item was scheduled to provide an update on the 2024-25 National Funding Formula allocation for High Needs, following the DfE's announcement. The report detailed the funding breakdown by various factors, including basic entitlement, historic spend, population, FSM, IDACI¹, bad health, disability, and low attainment factors for Key Stages 2 and 4. It noted a total increase in high needs funding for 2024-25 of £2.1m, which was to be considered alongside a projected cumulative deficit of £16m in the high needs block at the end of the 2023-24 financial year.

Central Schools Services Block 2024-25

The meeting was to be informed of the final allocation for the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) Central Schools Services Grant (CSSB) for 2024-25. The report detailed the per-pupil rates and historic commitments, noting an increase in pupil numbers from the October 2023 census. The services funded by the CSSB were listed, including copyright licences, admissions, and Schools Forum costs. The report proposed that the additional CSSB allocation be held as a contingency, with a portion earmarked for potential increases in the National Copyright Licence fees.

Delivering Better Value in High Needs

An update was scheduled on the Delivering Better Value (DBV) in High Needs programme. This included information on a £1m grant awarded by the DfE, to be split over two financial years, to fund workstreams such as building parental confidence, establishing an Inclusion Peer Review Team, increasing professional capacity, and co-produced training. These actions were intended to ensure children's needs are met in appropriate settings, providing better value for money. The report also highlighted revised forward forecasts of a projected deficit in the High Needs Block by 2026-27.

Early Years Funding 2024-25

The forum was to receive a summary of the indicative DSG Early Years Block funding for 2024-25 and the process for determining local early years funding rates. The report detailed the funding rates for 2023-24 for providers, including base rates, deprivation funding, and Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP). It also outlined the indicative funding allocations for 2024-25, which included new entitlements for children under two and two-year-olds of working parents. The report presented a comparison of indicative figures for 2024-25 against 2023-24, showing significant increases in hourly rates and allocations for various age groups and entitlements. The process for determining funding rates for providers in 2024-25, including the 95% pass-through requirement for specific entitlements, was also to be discussed.