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Contact: Tiffany Yip
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Apologies for absence Minutes: No apologies for absence were received.
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Minutes of the last meeting To agree the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record.
Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as an accurate record.
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Schools Block Mainstream Budget 2025/26 This report sets out the final Schools Block allocation of the Dedicated Schools Grant for 2025/26 following the receipt of final funding allocations and the Authority Proforma Tool (APT) in December 2024.
Additional documents:
Minutes: Tony Burton (Head of Finance for Children’s Services and Education) presented the item which set out the final school's block allocation of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) for 2025/26 following the receipt of final funding allocations and the Authority Proforma Tool (APT) in late December 2024. He highlighted that per national funding guidance in indicated pupil funding had increased by 1.72% for Hammersmith and Fulham mainstream schools, versus a 2.3% increase nationally. Total funding allocations had decreased in cash terms year on year due to the reduced number of pupils in mainstream schools.
The Teachers Pay Additional Grant (TPAG), Teachers Pension Employer Contribution Grant (TPECG) and the Core Schools Budget Grants (CSBG) which were separate grants in the 2024/25 financial year had all been incorporated into the final 2025/26 schools block allocation. A 2025/26 baseline adjustment was made by the Department for Education to incorporate these grants into the mainstream funding allocation of £6.815m.
Tony Burton noted that responses from the school's block 2025/26 budget consultation supported the principles for allocating the 2025/26 schools block budget and the transfer of 1% of the school's block budget to the high needs block for the 2025/26 budget. Minimum funding guarantee was set at minus 0.25% and mirrored the National Funding Formula (NFF) factor rates allowing for a percentage uplift of 0% on the inner London NFF rates. Should the disapplication for 1% transfer from the school's block to support the high needs block be rejected by the Minister of State, the alternative 0.5% transfer model would be used to distribute block funding to schools.
Tony Burton also pointed out that the reduced pupil numbers in mainstream primary schools had caused the de-delegated and education functions budgets to decrease year on year and noted that maintained schools license was now paid directly by schools. Due to the tightening of regulations, a separate falling rolls fund could not be established.
The Central Services Schools Block reduced in three ways for 2025/26: · A 1.5% reduction in core funding per pupil · A reduction in total funding due to the reduction in pupil numbers in mainstream schools · A reduction in the historic central services allocation of 20% year on year, impacting its ability to support high needs block.
Karen Cunningham (St John XXIII Catholic Primary) asked if pupil placement planning would take place to address gaps in schools rolls. Peter Haylock (Director of Education and SEND) responded that with a reduced number of two form entry schools, the scope for planning around rotating plan reductions was limited.
Alex Parker (Observer) asked for further clarification on the pupil funding increases. Tony Burton explained that funding allocation was determined by the number of pupils on roll. The model mirrored the NFF, including a core rate to reflect some of the grants being incorporated into the mainstream budget. MFG would provide protection on a per pupil basis for pupil led funding levels in the National Funding Formula year on year. Tony Burton suggested that funding levels in Hammersmith and Fulham ... view the full minutes text for item 3. |
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Early Years Budget 2025/26 This report updates forum on the initial allocation of Early Years Block funding for 2025/26 including the extended entitlements for working parents of two year old children and children from age 9 months. Minutes: Tony Burton (Head of Finance for Children’s Services and Education) presented the report on the initial allocation of early years block funding for 2025/26 including the extended entitlements for working parents of two-year-old children and children from age 9 months. · There is very constrained funding growth in the DfE funding allocation for 3 and 4-year-olds offer at around £0.04 increase per hour, or 0.6% increase in general. There was a £0.12 increase per hour for school nurseries to ensure teachers pay and pension grants for 2025/26 continued to benefit primary schools with nursery provision in 2025/26. · The £1.1m maintained nursery school supplementary grant funding included the allowance for maintained nursery school share of teachers pay and pension grant and the September 2024 early years block grant for teachers pay. · 2-year-old and under 2-year-old offers received increased funding from the DfE of 7.37% and 6.99% respectively on the basic entitlement rates year on year.
Tony Burton also updated that the total central spend on the Early Years budget was proposed at £0.79m. Given the reduction in central spend limit, it was proposed that early intervention services and outreach were to be delivered via H&F maintained nursery schools via an increase in the lump sum budget provision within the 3 and 4-year-old budget model.
Jane Gleasure (Little People, Early Years) enquired how that would be delivered. Tony Burton explained that the allocation was pre-empting a reduction in central spend. The change was only confirmed in December and discussions were underway with maintained nursery schools about the plan going forward. Private and voluntary nursery providers would continue to benefit from the services provided after the proposed change in delivery.
Michele Barrett (Randolph Beresford / Vanessa Nursery) added that there was initial discussion around increasing support in areas that required improvement, and liaison would continue with the private, voluntary and independent (PVI) and childminder sector.
Jane Gleasure noted that they were at a disadvantage compared to maintained schools and maintained nursery schools, facing pressure from inflation and challenges to early years intervention provision in the borough. She was keen to know how funds would be distributed between the PVI and maintained sector and expressed that she would like to be involve in the decision-making process.
Michele Barrett replied that nothing had been finalised yet but would be in place before April. Tony Burton added that the proposal was to shift provision of early intervention to maintained nursery schools and preserve the services delivered to support PVI services specifically. Meanwhile, SEN Inclusion fund continued to expand for early SEND support. Daryle Mathurin (Head of Assets and Resources - Education and SEND) further explained that the plan would be co-produced with PVI providers.
Michele Barrett noted that the maintained nursery sector was under a lot of pressure, and nationally many were looking at closures within the next year or so if no change was in place. Jane Gleasure highlighted that pressure was also coming from the increasing level of social and emotional needs. The Chair ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
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High Needs Block 2025/26 Update This report sets out the final High Needs Block allocation of the Dedicated Schools Grant for 2025/26 following the receipt of final funding in December 2024. Minutes: Tony Burton (Head of Finance for Children’s Services and Education) updated the Forum onthe final high needs block allocation of the dedicated schools grant for 2025/26 following the receipt of final funding in December 2024. The provisional high needs block allocation represented a 7% increase per head of population for 2025/26. The minimum funding guarantee for special schools was currently under review locally to meet needs. It was noted that the high needs block continued to face significant pressure.
Alex Parker (Observer) asked which category of the budget covered top-up fundings and the costs for schools which specialised in high needs. Tony Burton replied that the top-up funding for all providers was given under placement costs. Funding for both academies and maintained schools was included in placement costs or alternative provision.
Alex Parker followed up by asking what the SEND Service category covered. Tony Burton answered that it covered language teachers, directly provided services and some occupational therapists provided by the Council but not education, health and care plans casework.
At the end of the meeting, Tony Burton (Head of Finance for Children’s Services and Education) noted that the Scheme for Financing Schools and Financial procedures which went to Schools Forum in October 2024 had been adopted after consultation with maintained schools. Details would be published on the Council's website soon.
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