Decision details

To approve consultation on the following proposals to reduce costs in the High Needs Block:

• Transformation of the Pupil Referral Service and Alternative Provision
• Replacement of the CAN-Do Resource Allocation System with a banded system model
• Delivery of 600 hours for post-19 provision.

PLEASE NOTE This decision was originally published on or near the date of the decision and so call in no longer applies. It has been re-published as part of the change in committee management system that we use.

The High Needs Block for North Yorkshire amounts to £45.847 million (including £1.66m transfer from Schools Block). This is a reduction from the allocation reported in March 2018 of £695k. This reduction is due to updated DfE figures from January 2018 school census and February individual learner records (notified to local authorities in June 2018) and to higher than anticipated deductions for commissioned places in FE colleges where ESFA pays the institution directly rather than through the local authority.

It is anticipated that the estimated financial pressure in 2018-19 will be in the order of £5.5m. However, demand predictions in relation to pupils with special educational needs indicate that the underlying financial pressure of £5.5m will grow by approximately £1.5m - £2.5m in each of the next few years. Overall, the local authority, schools and academies in North Yorkshire are facing a recurring funding shortfall of £10m - £13m by 2021-22.

A number of proposals to reduce costs will be presented to the Schools Forum on 27 September 2018 for their consideration and will then form the basis of consultation with key stakeholders (schools, parents and carers) in October/November.