Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all attendees to the meeting and introductions were completed.

Apologies were received as follows.

• Tom Brailsford – Strategic Director, Children & Families
• Kieran Lord – Service Director, Resources, Improvements & Partnerships
• Cllr Elizabeth Reynolds – Portfolio Holder
• Isabel Brittain – Service Director, Finance
• Jo-Anne Sanders – Service Director, Learning and Early Support
• Helen Pearson – Maintained Primary
• Rik Robinson – Maintained Special
• Andi Gilroy-Sinclair – LA Nursery School
• Vicky Morris – NASUWT
• Fiona Denham – Senior Kirklees Learning Partner

To approve the Minutes of the Schools Forum Briefing held on 1st December 2023.

The minutes were confirmed as an accurate record of the last meeting.

To discuss matters arising from the meeting held on 1st December 2023.

There were no matters arising not covered on the agenda.

Kirklees Education & Learning Partnership Board (standing item)

Verbal Update / KELPB Attendees

An overview of items discussed at ELBP was shared by members of the Board.

·         Safety Valve

·         Mainstream top-up funding review

Verbal update from Jo-Anne Sanders and John Bartlett

(a)   Safety Valve Monitoring Update

John Bartlett updated the meeting.

·         We have still not had an update from the DfE about the Safety Valve submission.

·         We have still not had an update about the AP Free school application.

Q. When do we expect the next tranche of money from the DfE?

A. We expect to receive £4m this financial year but this has not yet been received.

Q. Have we exhausted all avenues for complaint and challenge about the delays in communication and the uncertainty in the Safety Valve process and the impacts on the LA?

A. We can check if there are any other unexplored routes for challenge.

Schools Forum noted that there was increasing concern about the lack of communication and uncertainty in the Safety Valve and AP Free school application process.

It was noted that the Trade Unions are also supporting a campaign to raise issues with school funding.

ACTION: The Chair to discuss the appropriateness of a letter to the DfE from School Forum raising concerns with communication processes.

(b)   Mainstream top-up funding review

John Bartlett updated the meeting.

·         The final Task and Finnish group meeting will take place today.

·         Meetings are now scheduled to share information with schools and partners.

Q. Are we still on track for roll out of the new Clusters in September 2024.

A. Yes we are.

David Baxter.

Please see additional documents

David Baxter summarised contents of the 3 papers confirming:

·         The Budget 2024 – 25 has been formally signed off by the ESFA.

·         Budget allocations have now been sent out to individual schools.

·         Colleagues in schools are now working on school budgets for 2024-25.

·         The Safety Valve Block Transfer of £2.6m for 2024-25 has now been approved by the Secretary of State.

Martin Wilby / David Baxter

The Growth Funding Update – January 2024 had been circulated before the meeting.

Martin Wilby updated the meeting and summarised key areas of the report.

·         Growth Funding within the Schools Block

·         Pupil Growth Fund (KS1) 2023-2024 Interventions

·         Future Pupil Growth 2023-2024

Q. Some schools are receiving significant funding?

A. We do monitor schools and how they access the growth fund over time to spot trends. We do have some very small primary schools and help is needed to sustain the curriculum offer.

There was no other business.

The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed above.

Friday, 21^st June 2024 – Briefing & Public

Chestnut Room, Cathedral House, St Thomas Road, Huddersfield. HD1 3LG

Date and times of next public meeting:

Friday, 21 June 2024 – 10.00 am – 11.00 am, Chestnut Room, Cathedral House