Agenda and draft minutes

1.            WELCOME AND APOLOGIES (Note)

The chair welcomed all and thanked everyone for their attendance.

1.1         It was confirmed the meeting was quorate, recognising the apologies below.

Elizabeth Funge Assistant Director Education

Gemma White The Blue Bell Federation

Sian Hedger BSD finance

Kirsten Coe BSD finance

Sarah Rice BSD finance

2.       MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING 13 January 2023 (Approval)  

2.1     The minutes for the meeting held were approved as a true record and will be signed by the Chair and scanned to clerk.

2.2     Actions noted from 13/01/23 minutes. 5.2 School Improvement – De-delegation approval, Elizabeth Funge confirmed that this information will be shared at the secondary headteachers meeting in February. Hugh asked that this information is also brought to Schools’ Forum in the new academic year.

3.       MATTER ARISING AND DECLARATION OF INTERESTS (Discussion)

3.1     Matters arising – none
Declarations of interest - none

4.       High needs – spend on commissioned places (Information)

4.1     Forum members were given detailed information in relation to the spend in 2022/23 on High needs commissioned places. Key points;

·         50% expenditure goes towards special school places

·         40% of that total number goes towards independent, non-maintained schools (INMS) making it an average spend per pupil significantly higher in that sector.

·         Suggested that more context could be given for the high costs to explain the high cost, low incident nature of children’s whose needs cannot be met in a special school/academy sector.

·         Summerdown school has been set up to try and provide children with health needs without placing them in the INMS sector.

5.       High Needs – Enhancing Inclusive Practice Programme Update (Information)                                                                        

5.1     Members were given an update on the progress to date on the implementation of this programme following two rounds of applications from schools and settings.

          Recommendations:

·         To note the progress made on the implementation of the programme across the county

·         Support for the proposals for a third round of bidding in the new school year.

Schools’ Forum members support recommendation to have a third round of bidding.

It was asked that ‘best practice’ and evidence is shared between schools.

6.       Election of Chair for Schools’ Forum (Approval)

This is following on from the recently sent email highlighting that a new Chair is required.

Members were asked for a “volunteer”, at this meeting to replace the Chair who is stepping down from the position. There were no volunteers for a permanent replacement.

It was requested that a member volunteered to Chair for the September meeting only and Jo Foulkes as current vice chair was asked to step up for the September meeting initially and Monica Whitehead volunteered to be Vice Chair.

At the September meeting there will be another item on the agenda to appoint a new, permanent Chair for Schools’ Forum.

Alison Jeffery thanked Hugh Hennebry for his service to schools’ forum.  

7.       ANY OTHER BUSINESS

New pay award – it was asked that something could be circulated to Headteachers and governors, to clarify if the 6.5% pay award is funded.