Apologies for absence were received from R Bevan, D Allen, J Jones, D Woollard and S Ayub.

Minutes attached

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th December 2023, be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of Director Education, Early Years and Inclusion (to follow)

The Board received a verbal update from the Director of Education, Early Years and Inclusion on the proposals to establish a Southend School Forum and the Education Strategy Group and the next steps. 

The Director advised that a workshop will be held with headteachers to establish the Terms of Reference of the Schools Forum with a view to holding elections in the summer period and the first formal meeting of the Schools Forum commencing in September 2024.

Resolved:

That the update on progress towards the establishment of the Schools Forum and Education Strategy Group, as well the associated other groups (e.g. SEND Partnership and Early Years Forum).

Joint report of Senior Finance Business Partner and Early Years Consultant

The Board considered a report of the Senior Finance Business Partner presenting the 2024/25 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget Early Years funding rates for 2024/25.

The Board asked questions which were responded to by the officer.  In response to a specific question concerning the Children’s Centres the Board noted that a consultation was taking place through the Council’s Public Health department.

Resolved:

That the Early Years (EY) funding rates for 2024/25 as set out in Sections 6 and 7 of the submitted report, including centrally retained balances, be approved as summarised below:

(a) For 3&4 year old funding, from the 1^st April 2024:

·       Uplift the EY Provider base rate to £5.30 per hour (an increase of 9.7% from the original 2023/24 rate, an increase of 3.1% when including the EY Supplementary grant introduced from September 2023)

·       Uplift the eligible deprivation rate to 49p per hour

·       Move to a 97% EY provider passport rate, retaining an additional £181,000 per annum to expand and enhance EY Centrally retained support.  

(b) For 2 year old disadvantage entitlement funding, from the 1^st April 2024:

·       Uplift the EY Provider base rate to £7.82 per hour (an increase of 37.7% from the original 2023/24 rate, an increase of 3.8% when including the EY Supplementary grant introduced from September 2023)

·       Retain the existing 99.3% EY provider passport rate.

(c) For the new 2 year old eligible working parent funding, from the 1^st April 2024:

·       Set the EY Provider base rate at £7.48 per hour.

·       Implement with a 95% EY provider passport rate, and the remaining 5% supporting EY Centrally retained.

(d) For the new 9 month to 2 year old eligible working parent funding, from the 1^st September 2024:

·       Set the EY Provider base rate at £10.20 per hour.

·       Implement with a 95% EY provider passport rate, and the remaining 5% supporting EY Centrally retained.

(e) Implement a Special Education Needs Inclusion EY Provider support Fund (SENIF) across all funding streams at 1.4% of total funds available within that stream.

(f) It be noted that from the 1^st April 2024 the early years pupil premium (EYPP) rate is now set at 68p per hour across all streams for eligible children, and the Disability Access Fund (DAF)is now set at £910 per annum per eligible child.

idered a report of the Senior Finance Business Partner

Report of Senior Finance Business Partner

The Board considered a report of the Senior Business Finance Partner presenting the 2024/25 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget, including the DSG Individual School budgets for 2024/25.

Resolved:

That the 2024/25 DSG Budget, which has been set as agreed in accordance with the approved funding principles of the 13^th December 2023 DSG Education Board finance reports, be noted.

To be advised for March and June 2024.

Tuesday 19^th March 2024 at 8.45am – Venue to be confirmed.

Tuesday 18^th June 2024 at 8.45am – Civic Centre, Southend Council Offices