Agenda and minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on. By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The Chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The  Cabinet Member referred to the filming at meetings notice and attendees noted this information.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Business. (Late items of Urgent Business will be considered under the agenda item where they appear).

There were no items of urgent business.

None

The Cabinet Member for Children , Families and Schools  considered the report which sought approval for changes to the Council’s local schools funding formula for the 2025-26 financial year in line with the Schools National Funding Formula set out by the Department for Education (DfE).

This was following consultation by the Council with all maintained and academy schools in the borough. The local school funding formula is aligned with the National Funding Formula (NFF).

The Schools’ Forum  had met on the 16^th of January 2025  to determine the funding formula for the financial year 2025-26 and Cabinet Member approval was now required following this meeting and the need for the  Council to agree grant allocations.

It was  noted that the funding allocation for the year 2025-26 must then be submitted to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) via the Authority Proforma Tool (APT) by 22^nd January 2025.

In considering the report and recommendations, the Cabinet Member noted that the final de-delegations / block transfers and financial allocations to each school were set out at paragraph 5.9, table three, and had been agreed at the Schools Forum. It was confirmed that these  figures took account of the de- delegation of £150,000 that  would support the increased capacity in the Councils Schools Finance team, to better support schools experiencing financial difficulties.

It was further noted that there would be continued discussions with schools that were facing financial  difficulties at a meeting in February.

RESOLVED

1. 

1.To note that Schools’ forum convened on 16^th January 2025 had approved the funding formula for the 2025-26 financial year for schools in Haringey, taking into account the following parameters:

a)    To adopt NFF Model as outlined in the consultation with schools to set Minimum Funding Guarantee of 0% for all schools;

b)    To note the transfer of 0.50% from the Schools Block allocation to the High Needs Block as agreed by the Schools’ forum under the safety valve agreement with the DfE in December 2024;

c)    To agree the Growth fund be set at £300,000;

d)    To agree the de-delegation of £210,000 for Trade Union Representation (for maintained schools only).

e)    To agree the Block transfer of £122,000 from the Schools Block to the Central Block for Education Welfare Services, dependent on any necessary consent from the DfE;

2.      To note that the schools’ forum agreed on the funding parameters outlined in the recommendations “a” to “e” above on 5^th December 2024.

3.      To note that a further and more worked up proposal was presented to NLCs chairs on 9^th January 2025, prior to the schools’ forum meeting on 16^th January 2025 to secure agreement for the de-delegate £150,000 from schools’ budgets in 2025-26 to fund the increased capacity in the Councils Schools Finance team, to better support schools experiencing financial difficulties. Haringey provides finance support to 64 maintained schools and nurseries and as at Quarter 2 this year there are 37 Schools with forecast deficit balances  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.