Decision details

22.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval for the East Sussex County Council School Funding Formula for 2019/20.

22.2     RESOLVED – to approve the proposals in relation to the ESCC School Funding Formula for 2019/20

1) Primary Phase Proposal:

Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) at 100.5% and Capping at 1.5%, decrease the lump sum by £2,000 to £120,000, reduce the Free School Meals (FSM) rate to the NFF rate, introduce Free School Meals Ever6 (FSM6) and Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) factors at the proposed NFF rates, introduce a minimum per pupil amount, amend the Sparsity calculation to align to the NFF.

2) Secondary Phase Proposal:

Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) at 100.5% and Capping at 1.5%, decrease the lump sum by £7,000 to the NFF level of £110,000, reduce the Free School Meal (FSM) rate to the NFF rate, introduce Free School Meal Ever6 (FSM6) and Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) factors to the NFF rates, introduce a minimum per pupil amount, amend the Sparsity calculation to align to the NFF.

Reasons

22.3     The proposals were developed by the Funding Formula Working Group for consultation with the Schools Forum and all schools and academics. A majority of school respondents were in favour of the proposals which are based on principles that work towards the National Funding Formula (NFF), whilst avoiding any undue turbulence to schools and academies.