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Schools Forum Training

This training course provides an overview of the role and responsibilities of Schools Forums, covering financial issues discussed and addressing member questions.

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Schools Forum Training

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  1. Schools Forum Training June 2017 David Blakesley (Finance Manager)

  2. Purpose of Course • To provide an overview of the role and responsibilities of Schools Forums • To give an understanding of the financial issues discussed at Schools Forums • To try to answer any questions from members!

  3. School Forum Regulations • Issued by DfE • LAs have responsibility for establishing Schools Forums • LAs have responsibility to provide Forum with support, information and guidance to carry out their functions and responsibilities • Regulations cover: • Establishment, constitution, meetings and proceedings • Functions & Consultation • Forum & Members’ Expenses

  4. Functions • Formal method for LA’s to consult with schools. • Changes to the funding formula • (Reports & Working Group) • Financial Issues • (Quarterly Revenue Monitoring Reports) • Annually on issues related to the schools budget • (Annual Budget Report) • Changes to the Fair Funding Scheme for Financing Schools – statutory / optional • (eg. changes to Surplus Balance policy for schools)

  5. DfE Guidance • Operational & Good Practice Guide • School Forum Powers & Responsibilities • Self Assessment Toolkit

  6. Membership • No minimum size (to accommodate small LAs) • No maximum size • Need to have full representation for various types of schools, academies and Pupil Referral Units • Authorities set the policy on including non-schools members (e.g. Church Dioceses) except: • Must have a Early Years PVI representative on Forum • Must have a 14-19 representative (subject to change)

  7. Schools Members • Represent specified phases or types of schools • Must contain representatives from primary and secondary schools • Members in each group should be broadly proportionate to the ratio of pupils • Must include representatives from special schools and nursery schools if maintained by LA. • Authority has the discretion to further divide the groups (e.g. Governor members within groups) • Must also include academy and PRU members

  8. Schools Members continued. • Term of office must be stipulated – 2 years from April 2017 for current members. • If a member resigns from or no longer occupies the office which they represent, they cease to be a member on Schools Forum. • Each group or sub-group is responsible for their election process (where required).

  9. Non-schools Members • May number no more than 1/3rd of total membership. • LA should ensure that the needs and interests of all pupils are adequately represented on Forum. • Length of office is at the discretion of the authority but is usually consistent with schools members • Elected members who hold an executive role are barred from being a member • Officers employed by the authority who have a role in strategic resource management are barred from membership.

  10. Observers • Any elected member or LA officer who is not a member is entitled to attend and speak at Forum. • CYPS Director, or representative, and LA Finance representatives • School Business Managers (by election process) • Education & Skills Funding Agency also has observer status • Other observers at Forum’s discretion (e.g. Trade Unions) • LA must make a record of the composition of the Schools Forum. • Observers can participate in discussions but have no voting rights

  11. Procedures • Meeting is quorate if 40% of the total membership is present • Forum must elect a chair from its own members (must not be an elected member or an officer of the LA). Term of office is 2 years. • Forum must decide voting procedures. Majority voting, Chair has casting vote. • Proceedings of the Forum are not invalidated by defects in the election or appointment of any member, Chair or vacancy. • Forum meetings are now open to the public and Forum papers have to be published on the LA’s website

  12. Other procedural matters • Attendance of LA officers for specific reports • Supported by a specific officer – David Blakesley (Finance Manager – LOCYPS) • Clerk to Schools Forum – Rebecca Brookes (Senior Finance Officer – LOCYPS) rebecca.brookes@doncaster.gov.uk • Reports circulated the week before • Accurate record of the meetings is taken and distributed at next Forum meeting • Schools Forum budget is £35,630 for 2017/18

  13. Communication • Agenda, Papers & Minutes of the Schools Forum must be published on the LA’s website • A summary newsletter is also sent out to all schools • Schools and individuals are referred to the website to obtain any further information they require (full minutes etc).

  14. Relationship with Local Authority • In order to have an Effective Schools Forum the following are important: • Partnership • Effective support • Openness • Responsiveness • Strategic view • Challenge and Scrutiny • Working Groups - Formula / High Needs / Surplus Balances

  15. Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) • Statutory guidance concerning what can be funded from DSG • Grant Terms & Conditions • School & Early Years Finance Regulations • DSG Split into 3 blocks: • Schools Block • High Needs Block • Early Years Block

  16. Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) • Schools Block DSG funds: • Individual Schools Budget shares • Schools Central expenditure (allowable under DfE or SoS Approval) • Maintained Primary de-delegated budgets • Early Years Block DSG funds: • 3 & 4 year old nursery education • 2 year old nursery education • Central Early Years – staff / contingency (Forum Approval)

  17. Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) • High Needs Block DSG funds: • EHC plans/Statement top-up funding for schools • Special Schools • ARC’s • Pupil Referral Units • Learning Centres • Pupils educated out of area • Special Post 16 institutions & FE College Top-Up • HI, VI, Behaviour & ASD school support / Pre School Inclusion

  18. Schools Forum Involvement- Example • Schools Funding Formula Reforms: • Working Group set up 13/14 (continued annually) • Consultation / letters to all schools • Report taken & discussed at Forum • Sector approval of any de-delegation • Approval of Growth Fund • Agreeing new factor inclusion – EAL (15/16)

  19. Topics discussed at Forum LA reports or as requested by Forum: • Constitution of School Forum – to be reviewed • Dedicated Schools Grant budget (Feb) • Dedicated Schools Grant revenue monitoring • Financial Regulations & Fair Funding Scheme • Surplus school balances (ongoing) • DSG year end under/overspend • Approval of Central Early Years & School budgets

  20. Topics discussed at Forum cont… • Growth Fund • National Funding Formula • Future Developments in High Needs Provision • Other specific topics as requested or tabled

  21. Questions ?

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