Agenda item

Lisa Pottsintroduced the report (Agenda Item 12) to report on the outturn of the services funded by the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), highlighting any under or over spends, and to highlight the cumulative deficit at 31^st March 2024.

The deficit against the DSG stood at £4.76m at the end of the 2022/23 year. This had increased to £9.45m and the majority of this was related to the HNB. There was £1m in the Growth Fund that was helping to bring the overspend down.

There had been increase in the deficit Early Years Block however there was a deficit recovery plan in place. There were a lot of new funding streams due in the new year and all rates had been set at the 95 percent pass through rate. The pass through rate had also been reduced for three and four year olds, which had been historically quite high. This would help to reduce the deficit going forward. The deficit at the end of 2023/24 was £1.3m. 

There had historically been a small deficit in the Central Schools’ Services Block. This was reducing and now stood at only £1k.

Regarding the HNB, Lisa Potts commented on increases in EHCPs and Emotionally Based School Avoiders (EBSA). These areas were being reviewed as part of the DBV Programme.

The table under section nine of the report showed a breakdown of the total reserve balance and cumulative deficit, and this was further detailed within the appendix to the report.

RESOLVED that the Schools’ Forum noted the report.