Agenda item

Recommendations:

The Executive is asked to note the contents of this report, and to agree:

a.         That the Council applies a Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) of +0.5% in the calculation of mainstream school budgets for the 2023/24 financial year.

b.         That the Council uses age weighted pupil units (AWPU) as the methodology for the allocation to school budgets of any surplus funding available within the Schools Block DSG after the calculation of the school funding formula using National Funding Formula (NFF) values.

c.         That the Council includes an exceptional circumstance lump sum of £50,000 for very small sparse secondary schools (which would otherwise be unable to attract sufficient funding to remain viable) in the 2022/23 North Yorkshire school funding formula. The estimated £50k additional funding requirement to be funded from the DSG Schools Block Reserve.

d.         That the Council implements the DfE prescribed MFG funding methodology for special schools for the 2023/24 financial year of +3% on the 2021/22 funding level.

e.         That the Council applies an assumed inflationary increase of +3% to the Banded Funding allocations (top up/ ‘element 3’ allocations) received by mainstream and special schools and academies for the 2023/24 financial year.

f.          That the Council applies an assumed inflationary increase of +3% to the Banded Funding allocations (top up / element 3 allocations) received by pupil referral units and alternative provision settings for the 2023/24 financial year.

g.         That the Council applies an assumed inflationary increase of +3% to the factor elements within the Special school contextual funding for the 2023/24 financial year.

h.         That the Council applies, through the Special School funding formula, a lump sum payment, calculated on an academic year basis, of £100,000 where residential provision is operational at a special school, and where there are fewer than 20 pupils in residential provision.

i.          That the Council implements the Mainstream Schools Additional Grant funding arrangement and the High Needs Additional DSG funding arrangements as per the DfE guidance and grant conditions for the 2023/24 financial year.

j.          That the Council will continue to push for a fairer and more equitable funding settlement for schools in North Yorkshire. We will also continue to lobby for a fairer settlement of High Needs resources.

Considered – A report of the Corporate Director – Children and Young People’s Services to agree a number of recommendations relating to mainstream school and special school funding for 2023/24, as required by guidance issued by the Department for Education (DfE).

County Councillor Annabel Wilkinson introduced the report, noting the concern about the finances of small secondary and special schools and continuing to work with schools in financial difficulty to support them and challenge the governing bodies and school leaders. She reaffirmed that the County Council will continue to push for equitable funding for all North Yorkshire schools and academies, such as through the f40 group of the lowest funded education authorities in England and the County Council Network.

After modelling the school funding position (following the late-December DfE publication), it is likely that the allocation to schools will exceed the in-year DSG allocation. Therefore, an amendment was proposed to add a recommendation that the Council use Dedicated Schools Grant reserve funding to fund any Schools Block costs that exceed the in-year Dedicated Schools Grant allocation. This amendment was carried.

Resolved - The Executive notes the contents of this report, and agrees:

a.         That the Council applies a Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) of +0.5% in the calculation of mainstream school budgets for the 2023/24 financial year.

b.         That the Council uses age weighted pupil units (AWPU) as the methodology for the allocation to school budgets of any surplus funding available within the Schools Block DSG after the calculation of the school funding formula using National Funding Formula (NFF) values.

c.         That the Council includes an exceptional circumstance lump sum of £50,000 for very small sparse secondary schools (which would otherwise be unable to attract sufficient funding to remain viable) in the 2022/23 North Yorkshire school funding formula. The estimated £50k additional funding requirement to be funded from the DSG Schools Block Reserve.

d.         That the Council implements the DfE prescribed MFG funding methodology for special schools for the 2023/24 financial year of +3% on the 2021/22 funding level.

e.         That the Council applies an assumed inflationary increase of +3% to the Banded Funding allocations (top up/ ‘element 3’ allocations) received by mainstream and special schools and academies for the 2023/24 financial year.

f.          That the Council applies an assumed inflationary increase of +3% to the Banded Funding allocations (top up / element 3 allocations) received by pupil referral units and alternative provision settings for the 2023/24 financial year.

g.         That the Council applies an assumed inflationary increase of +3% to the factor elements within the Special school contextual funding for the 2023/24 financial year.

h.         That the Council applies, through the Special School funding formula, a lump sum payment, calculated on an academic year basis, of £100,000 where residential provision is operational at a special school, and where there are fewer than 20 pupils in residential provision.

i.          That the Council implements the Mainstream Schools Additional Grant funding arrangement and the High Needs Additional DSG funding arrangements as per the DfE guidance and grant conditions for the 2023/24 financial year.

j.          That the Council will continue to push for a fairer and more equitable funding settlement for schools in North Yorkshire. We will also continue to lobby for a fairer settlement of High Needs resources.

k.         That the Council use Dedicated Schools Grant reserve funding to fund any Schools Block costs that exceed the in-year Dedicated Schools Grant allocation.