Agenda and minutes

25.1     Councillor Bennett approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2017.

26.1     Copies of the reports referred to below are contained in the Minute book.

27.1     The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval to lower the age range at Telscombe Cliffs Community Primary School.

27.2     RESOLVED to authorise the change of age range at Telscombe Cliffs Community Primary School from 4-11 to 2-11 with effect from 1 April 2017.

Reasons

27.3     Lowering the age range will help to build on work already done by the school and nursery provider, ensuring a fully integrated Early Years Foundation Stage to help secure good outcomes for all children.   

28.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval for the allocation of the Dedicated Schools Grant for 2017/18, including the inter block transfers between the Schools Block, High Needs Block and Early Years Block.

28.2     RESOLVED to approve the allocation of the DSG budget for 2017/18, including the following inter block transfers:

·                  £4.3m inter block transfer from the Schools Block to the High Needs Block; and

·                  £22,800 inter block transfer from the Schools Block to the Early Years Block.

Reasons

28.3     The pressures in the High Needs Block are significant and the additional funding is required to support the following areas:

·        £600k to support school top up funding where there has been an increase in demand on top of increases in the band funding for children with EHCP’s.

·        £1.3m to support the increase in requests for new and on-going placements with Post 16 providers.

·        £2.4m to support the increase in demand for on-going placements post-19 within high cost independent special schools.

28.4     To maintain the Council’s commitment to the most vulnerable two year olds, an inter block transfer of £22,800 is requested for approval by Lead Member. This is to enable continued support to Band A children with an additional £0.80 per hour.

29.1     The Lead Member for Education and Inclusion, Special Educational Needs and Disability considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval for admission arrangements for the 2018/19 school year.

29.2       RESOLVED:               (1) to agree the proposed admission arrangements for the 2017/18 school year, including the following changes to the existing arrangements:

·        To make a change to the community area for Eastbourne primary schools so that the Polegate and Willingdon area outside the borough boundary becomes a separate community area as detailed in paragraphs 2.1 – 2.5 below;

·        To change the definition of ‘Looked After Children’ in the County Council’s admission arrangements to include children accommodated under section 20 of the Children Act 1989; and

·        Approve an application being made to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator for an in-year variation to enlarge the community area for Iford & Kingston CE Primary School to encompass the community area currently served by Rodmell CE Primary School in the event that a decision is taken by Cabinet in September 2017 to close Rodmell CE Primary School on 31 August 2018.

(2) agree the following:

·        The admission priorities as set out in Appendix 1 of the report

·        The admission numbers as set out in Appendix 3 of the report

·        The co-ordinated schemes as set out in Appendix 4 of the report.

Reasons

29.3     East Sussex County Council has a statutory duty to determine its admission arrangements and consult on any proposed changes. Following consultation, it is the responsibility of the Lead Member to determine the admission arrangements for the school year 2018/19.