Agenda item

Nicola Ponton introduced the report (Agenda Item 11), which provided a review of the Vulnerable Children’s Grant (VCG) 2022/2023.

Nicola Ponton explained that the VCG was a relatively small grant at £50k and was really appreciated by schools. It was an emergency fund for when a child was in crisis or a new child moved into the area and required a large amount of support. The VCG involved a simple process for schools to access the support. Over the last year 27 settings had applied for funding for 62 pupils and the vast majority of these were from primary schools.  

Nicola Ponton reported that most of the requests for funding had been around children’s social, emotional and mental health needs. There was some support requested for learning and also some support requested for medical needs. Most of the schools spent the funding received on Teaching Assistant (TA) support (69%). Some of the funding (20%) was spent on agency involvement (such as requesting Educational Psychologist reports). The table at the top of page 59 of the agenda pack showed how pupils’ needs were managed following the conclusion of the VCG.

Nicola Ponton highlighted the powerful comments from schools regarding the impact of the VCG funding, which were detailed on page 60 of the report. 

RESOLVED that the Schools’ Forum noted the report.