Agenda and minutes

19.1     The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2018.

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

20.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval to publish statutory notices in respect of a proposal to establish a SEN (Special Educational Needs) facility at Grovelands Community Primary School.

20.2     RESOLVED –

1)   to authorise the publication of a statutory notice in respect of a proposal to establish a Special Educational Needs (SEN) facility for up to 8 pupils at Grovelands Community Primary School with effect from the start of Term 5 in the 2018/19 academic year; and

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

REASON

20.3     The Council has identified a gap in specialist provision in mainstream primary schools for pupils with a primary need of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) in the Hailsham area and the Council would like to establish a facility for up to 8 pupils at Grovelands Community Primary School to address this.

20.4     The majority of respondents to the consultation support the proposal to establish a SEN facility at Grovelands Community Primary School.

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

21.1   The Lead Member  considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services which sought approval of the Dedicated Schools Grant Allocation for 2019/20.

21.2   RESOLVED – to approve the Dedicated Schools Grant budget for 2019/20.

 Reasons

  21.3   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 2019/20.

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

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.