Agenda and minutes

58.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2021.

Disclosure by all Members present of personal interests in matters on the Agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Member regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct

59.1     There were none.

Notification of items which the Lead Member considers to be urgent and propose to take at the end of the appropriate part of the Agenda

60.1     There were none.

61.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services providing an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant allocation for 2022/23 and seeking approval for the Dedicated Schools Budget for 2022/23.

61.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED - to approve the Dedicated Schools Grant allocation for 2022/23.

Reason

61.3     The report provided the Lead Member with information relating to the use of the four blocks which the Dedicated Schools Grant budget is divided into for 2022/23.

62.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval for the publication of the East Sussex Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA) for 2022.

62.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED – to approve the publication of the East Sussex Childcare Sufficiency Assessment for 2022.

Reason

62.3     The local authority is required to publish a Childcare Sufficiency Assessment annually. The document supports the authority’s statutory obligation of on-going assessment of childcare provision for children aged 0-14 years old (and up to 18 years old for children with SEND) in East Sussex.

63.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval for the publication of a statutory notice in respect of a proposal to establish a new specialist facility at All Saints CE Primary School.

63.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to –

1)         approve the publication of a statutory notice in respect of a proposal to establish a new specialist facility for up to 12 pupils at All Saints CE Primary School; and

2)         delegate authority to the Director of Children’s Services to amend the proposal prior to its publication if required.

Reason

63.3     The local authority has identified a gap in specialist provision in mainstream primary schools for pupils with neuro-diverse profiles, such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder and associated Social, Emotional and Mental Health and Speech, Language and Communication Needs, in the Rother area. Feedback from the initial consultation was positive, with 40 out of 42 respondents supportive of the proposal.