Agenda and draft minutes

2

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.8

2.9

2.10

2.11

2.12

2.13

2.14

2.15

2.16

2.17

2.18

2.19

2.20

2.21

2.22

2.23

2.24

2.25

2.26

2.27

2.28

2.29

2.30

2.31

2.32

2.33

High Needs Block Transfer Request to Schools Forum

The Chair reminded all those in attendance why a special meeting of the Schools Forum had been called, which was to give feedback and take onboard all key stakeholders (Head Teachers) viewpoints on the proposal to transfer 0.5% funding from the schools block to the high needs block (a total of £1.6 million) during the 2022/2023 financial year.

The Chair stated that it was important for Schools Forum to take everyone’s opinions into consideration and listen to feedback received, before making a collective decision on whether to support the LA’s proposal or not.

The Chair invited colleagues from the primary, secondary and special school phases to feed back on what their representative groups had said about and recommended with regard to the LA’s proposal.

Primary Phase Feedback

Diana Wilson (DW) reported that she, along with Catherine Jubbs (CJ), Helen Pearson (HP) and Jenny Shore (JS) attended a meeting of the Kirklees Primary Head Teachers (KPH) on 18 November 2021, at which the LA’s proposal was discussed.

DW informed Members that KPH colleagues recognised that the proposals had to be implemented and would be implemented, due to the demands placed on the LA by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Despite this, they welcomed the fact that they had given them the opportunity to comment on the proposals and offer feedback to the LA on them.

DW reported that KPH colleagues had expressed their concerns that funding was being taken from the schools block at a time when many primary schools were finding it very difficult to balance their budgets. She gave an example of one primary school which did not have sufficient finances to appoint a Deputy Head Teacher because their special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) costs, relating to the provision of teaching assistants within school to support children with complex/additional educational needs, were so high. This ad really brought home to KPH colleagues just how much some primary schools were struggling with their finances.

DW stated that KPH colleagues wanted the LA to be transparent with them over what the additional 0.5% would be used for, as well as its impact on high needs provision. They had also requested that the LA provide accurate, easy to follow and understand documentation to them which outlined the exact amount of funding each primary school would be missing out on – as the information submitted to them for the KPH meeting showed that some schools appeared to be losing out more than others, with some schools seemingly not losing out at all.

Action 24: That the LA provide this information to KPH colleagues. 

DW explained that Schools Forum Members in attendance at the KPH meeting did not sugar coat the information they shared with their primary school Head  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.