1. Somerset Schools Forum 27 November 2018 Schools Consultations Agenda Items 8 & 9

2. Consultation 1 The Forum is asked to give a view on the following:
A change to the methodology used to calculate allocations in respect of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts.
Setting the Minimum Funding Guarantee per pupil at -1.0% for year on year changes in pupil characteristics, e.g. reducing levels of deprivation or low prior attainment.
An alternative gains cap for schools who gain more than 15% through the NFF compared to 2017/18.

3. Consultation 1 LA Maintained Schools only to decide for their phase:
The de-delegation of budgets for primary, middle and secondary maintained schools for each of the service areas listed in the consultation.
A contribution to responsibilities the LA holds for maintained schools previously funded by the Education Services Grant (ESG) general rate.
A contribution towards the costs of school redundancies, previously funded by the ESG general rate. This ensures fairness by applying the same budgetary responsibilities to maintained schools that already exist for academies since the removal of the ESG general rate in September 2017

6. Consultation 2 The Forum is asked to decide on the following:
Transfer of up to 0.5% of the Schools Block to the High Needs Block.
The assumption is that schools voted on the basis of a transfer of the maximum 0.5%
Forum has the option to support or not, or to discuss an alternative of a different level of transfer
0.5% is equivalent to £21.85 per pupil (it would not be equitable as every school will receive a minimum of 0.5% increase per pupil and therefore those on the min will not contribute)
0.4% is equivalent to £17.48 per pupil
0.3% is equivalent to £13.11 per pupil
0.25% is equivalent to £10.92 per pupil

7. Consultation 2
The LA has the option of submitting a disapplication request to the Secretary of State in cases where the Forum has turned down a proposal to move funding out of the Schools Block, but the authority wishes to proceed with the transfer
The LA must submit the proposal by 30 November 2018
The DfE will take the following into account:
Information presented to the schools in the consultation and how schools responded to the consultation
Information presented to the Forum, and how it responded to what the LA was seeking
Evidence of a marked and recent transfer of responsibility for children with high needs from mainstream schools to the LA (e.g. significant increase in PEX, reduction of EHCP children in mainstream)
Movements from other blocks

8. Consultation 2 The Forum is asked to give a view on:
Increase the High Needs top up values by 2% from April 2019 across early years, mainstream, special and FE provision, to reflect the minimum increases in school per pupil funding and the unfunded costs of non-teaching staff pay award above the 1% pay cap.
The Forum is asked to note the outcome of the consultation in respect of the following:
Whether to continue, reduce or cease spending on specific areas funded from Combined Budgets (Historical Commitments).
Whether to continue or reduce discretionary services funded from the High Needs Block.