Agenda Item 5

Report to:	Schools’ Forum
Date of meeting:	17 November 2023
Report By:	Alison Jeffery
Title:	Central School Services Block (CSSB) 2024/25
Purpose:	To provide an update on the CSSB allocations for 2024/25

RECOMMENDATIONS

1) Schools’ Forum are asked to note and approve the proposals for the Central School Services Block for 2024/25.

1 Background

1.1 The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for 2024/25 will be allocated by the Department for Education (DfE), like 2023/24, into four notional blocks: Schools, High Needs, Early Years and Central School Services Block (CSSB). Each block is calculated on a different basis and subject to separate regulations as to eligible expenditure.

1.2 This paper specifically relates to the CSSB. This block includes funding that has been allocated to Local Authorities (LAs) to carry out functions on behalf of pupils in both maintained schools and academies and has two distinct elements:

· Ongoing responsibilities This comprises:

o funds specified by the DfE and retained centrally (Admissions, Copyright Licencing Agency (CLA) Licence and Servicing Schools Forum); and

o funds that were previously known as ‘Retained Duties Education Services Grant’ which, up to 2017/18, the LA received and held separately for its on-going responsibilities to maintained schools and academies.

· Historic Commitments These are what were previously known as “Combined Services” and is funding for previously specified financial commitments.

2 2024/25 On-going responsibilities

2.1 The DfE fund On-going responsibilities on a per pupil basis using the Oct census and have increased the funding rate for, 2024/25, from £37.26, to £38.55 per pupil.

2.2 As with 2023/24, the LA is asking to retain the full amount that the DfE is allocating for 2024/25.

2.3 Table 1 shows the 2024/25 proposals for the ‘On-going Responsibilities’ element of the CSSB which totals £2.46m. (Please note that this is separate funding from the Schools Block DSG which funds Maintained school budget shares / Academy General Annual Grants (GAGs).

Table 1: Proposals for 2024/25 On-going Responsibilities

3. Historic Commitments

3.1 The Historic Commitments are funded by the DfE as a lump sum amount, and for 2024/25 the DfE are allocating £2.02m to ESCC for Historic Commitments.

3.2 The LA are not intending to use any of this DSG funding element and instead propose to transfer the full £2.02m to schools and academies (Based on Oct ’23 Numbers On Roll).

3.3 Table 2 is a summary of the proposals for 2024/25 funding for historic commitments.

Table 2: Proposals for 2024/25 Historic Commitments

Historic Commitments	2023/24 Allocations	CSSB Changes	2024/25 Proposed Allocations


Funds transferred to Schools	£2,521,100	-£504,200	£2,016,900
*Total	£2,521,100	-£504,200	£2,016,900

*Please note that the DfE reduce the Historic commitments value by 20% each year. This means that for 2024/25, the value has reduced by £504k.

4. Summary and Conclusion

4.1 This report lays out the proposals for the retention of the £2.46m for ‘on-going responsibilities’ and the transferring of £2.02m ‘Historic Commitments’ to schools and academies in addition to their budget shares/ GAG. Schools’ Forum members are asked to approve these proposals.

Alison Jeffery

Director Childrens Services

Contact Officer: Ed Beale
Tel. No. 01273 337984
Email: Edward.beale@eastsussex.gov.uk