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Agenda item

Final High Needs Budget (Jane Seymour)

Minutes:

Jane Seymour introduced the report which set out the current financial position of the High Needs Budget (HNB) for 2018/19 and the position known so far for 2019/20, including the likely shortfall. It also sought a decision on the proposal to fund a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy Officer from the HNB in order to take forward projects in the SEND Strategy to achieve long term savings.

There was a forecast shortfall of £2.17m in the 2019/20 HNB, which was an increase from the figure of £1.86m reported to the last Schools’ Forum meeting. Reasons for this increase were detailed under section 3.8 of the report as follows:

·         There had been an increase in resourced unit place funding of £24k.

·         An increase of £198,028 in top up costs, mainly due to schools’ fee increases and new placements. This included a net increase of four placements. The figure provided at the Schools’ Forum meeting in January 2019 had been a prediction.

·         An increase of £33,295 in other statutory services. This was mainly due to an increase in bespoke packages for children with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

·         An additional £56k for a proposed SEND Strategy Officer. Further detail on this could be viewed on page 65 of the report under section six.

Jane Seymour reported that the final column of the tables within Appendix A highlighted the pressure being faced for each area, as this showed how the predicted budget for 2019/20 differed from the current year. Top Up Funding was the main area of pressure.

The Schools’ Forum had agreed not to proceed with further saving options other than bringing the Home Tuition Service in house.

Jane Seymour explained a Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Strategy had been in place since the Autumn of 2018, which was an ambitious five year strategy. Work had commenced on implementing the SEND Strategy however, increased capacity was required to move forward. The proposal included within the report was for a SEND Strategy Officer who would focus on moving SEND work at a pace required to achieve the desired savings. It was suggested that the post should be offered on a temporary contract for three years initially. A number of the projects within the SEND Strategy were resource intensive including a proposal for a new 50 place secondary provision for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or with Social and Emotional Mental Health needs and this was detailed under section 6.8 of the report. It would take up to seven years for the provision to be filled and it was possible that it could deliver a potential annual saving of £1.25m.

It was highlighted that the HFG on 27th February 2019 had recommended that the proposal to fund a SEND Strategy Officer from the HNB, should be agreed by the Schools’ Forum.

Rev. Mark Bennett noted that some of the services within the HNB were non statutory. He recalled that the Schools’ Forum had been informed that these services offered value for money and were often cost effective options compared to other alternatives. Rev. Mark Bennett felt that it would be helpful to have a review of these services to verify their value. Jane Seymour stated that detailed work to assess the value of non-statutory services had been undertaken but she agreed this needed to continue.

Keith Harvey referred to an announcement from the Secretary of State concerning specialist schools. Ian Pearson reported that this was the result of a call for applications to create special free schools, largely through using capital funding. Reference within the report to a secondary SEMH provision, was separate to this process. Ian Pearson reported that West Berkshire Council had considered applying however had been approached by Reading Borough Council for support as they were putting together an application for the same provision. West Berkshire would be able to access the facility, if Reading’s bid was approved. Wokingham were also supporting Reading’s application.

Jane Seymour added that if Reading’s bid was approved, it would help West Berkshire in the short term. West Berkshire Council could have submitted its own application however, it was particularly difficult to retain control over the costs from free schools.

Regarding the SEMH secondary provision detailed in the report, Ian Pearson reported that the resource would be attached to an existing secondary school. Chris Prosser asked if a secondary school had put itself forward and Ian Pearson confirmed that a school has expressed an interest in supporting the project.

The Chairman drew the attention back to the recommendation under section two of the report. Keith Harvey proposed that the Schools’ Forum approve the proposal to fund a SEND Strategy Officer from the HNB and this was seconded by Graham Spellman. At the vote the motion was carried.

RESOLVED that the Schools’ Forum approved the proposal to fund an SEND Strategy Officer from the HNB.

 

 

Supporting documents: