Issue - meetings

.1         Nathan thanked schools for giving their time for their input into consultation. The service has received 60 responses from schools, academies and trusts to the consultation by the deadline. Appendix 2, within the papers, outlines the full breakdown of responses to each of the models.

4.2       The model with the highest first preferences was model 3; on this basis, the LA will proceed to consult with schools and academies in September as to the level of buy-in that they will commit to from April 2020. An analysis of the implications of this model has been conducted and this shows that the service requires minimum buy-in from schools (either by de-delegation from maintained schools, or by individual school commitment) of £440K for it to be viable.

4.3       At the same time as consulting with schools, option/model 3 will be taken to Schools’ Forum in September for consideration to de-delegate funding from mainstream schools. This will be twin-tracked with a public consultation on the future of the service.

4.4       The vote during at September Schools’ Forum in September will be for delegation of 100% of the notional EAL budget from both primary and secondary maintained schools. If both primary and secondary vote ‘yes’ there would be sufficient funding for the service to continue; if only primary agree to de-delegate, then we will ask secondary schools and academies, and primary academies, to commit funding from 01 April 2020. Primary still make up the majority of the budget for EALs but it is not possible to state how many more schools would be required to commit as this depends on their individual notional EAL budget. The deadline for schools to make this commitment is 28 September

4.5       Should the service not secure the minimum level of buy-in (£440k) then the LA will have to begin a staff consultation with a view to closing the service on 31 March 2020. Schools and academies can only opt in for a minimum 2-year commitment and unable to buy-in afterwards. This is to ensure that the service can prioritise commitments to schools who provide funding up-front.