Contents
Attendance
DCC
Jack Newton (Chair) – Deputy Director, Inclusion & Learning, Adrian Fox – Head Accountant (Education & Learning), Karlien Bond – Senior Accountant (Inclusion & Learning), Heidi Watson-Jones – Executive Assistant (Inclusion & Learning)
Devon Schools Leadership Services
Primary
Jamie Stone – Denbury Primary, Christopher Tribble – Honiton Primary, Penny Hammett – FORT Federation, Paul Walker – First Federation
Secondary
Graham Hill – Pilton Community College, Rob Gammon – The King’s School
Special Schools
Hannah Smart – ACE Tiverton (part)
Alternative Provision
Rob Gasson – Wave Multi Academy Trust
Early Years Providers
Gemma Rolstone – Puffins Childcare
DAG
Faith Butler – Special School Governors, Adrian Hines – Primary Governors, Alex Walmsley – Secondary Governors
Apologies
Mat Thorpe – DCC Deputy Director Finance & Public Value, Rob Gammon – The King’s School, Rob Gasson – Wave Multi Academy Trust, Tristan Muller-Forster – Tavistock College, Sarah Pickering – Mill Water School
1. Minutes of previous meeting – 4 June 2025
- Jack Newton welcomed the group in the context of a new academic year and a renewed commitment to working more collaboratively in partnership.
- JN outlined that it was timely to review the focus for the Schools Finance Group, including the group being chaired by a senior leader within the inclusion and learning service going forward as an effective Inclusion and Learning leadership team is now in place.
- The service will be represented at DEF by Jack Newton & Kellie Knott as strategic directors, with Simon Niles, Head of Education Strategy and Central Operations chairing SFG from the November meeting.
- The group were satisfied that this would be a suitable way forward, ensuring that appropriate expertise is available for technical and specialist agenda discussions.
- SFG considered the remit of both the Devon Education Forum and School Finance Group, with a proposal that governance structures across the education landscape are reviewed. This would focus on School Forum statutory duties and best practice across other LAs. (Schools forum operational and good practice guide – GOV.UK)
- The group were mindful that in Devon the Schools Forum has become a key place for schools to raise and discuss a wide range of education issues, away from its intended remit, which has resulted in challenges in chairing the complex and difficult discussions.
- SFG supported development of an effective governance structure, including DEF, within the context of improved partnership working across all areas of the service and ensuring that services to schools and children are well monitored.
- SFG considered the impact of emerging Local Government Reorganisation priorities. JN confirmed that an effective structure and governance will support the improvement journey of the Inclusion and Learning service regardless of the development of future government models.
- Thanks were extended to DSLS colleagues for their support in convening a consultation working group ahead of summer break.
- Bromcom:
- Noted Denbury Primary had not yet been contacted by ScoMIS to review the situation and training offer.
- School leaders reported that there are ongoing anomalies with the operation of Bromcom which is reflected across schools nationally.
- Schools were reminded to continue to log any issues with ScoMIS.
- ACTION: Finance colleagues to liaise with ScoMis and report to November meeting on ongoing Bromcom and Unit4 issues locally and nationally.
- ACTION: JN to communicate to maintained schools to update with information of issues that are currently being addressed. KB to draft.
- ACTION: JN / Finance colleagues to share communications with external partners to clearly outline communication routes for any problems with Unit4.
- KB updated the group on progress that has been made around reporting and payments, and ongoing developments around forecasting and income monitoring.
- Noted issue around single payment of Early Years grant to providers with multiple settings.
- Bromcom & Unit4 to be discussed at November meeting.
- Free School Meals Auto-enrolment
- Programme remains on track to be in place for October census. Working directly with DWP to access appropriate data set.
- DCC remains fully committed to implementation within the academic year.
- Noted that there are some short term issues around admin supporting parents wishing to un-enrol.
- ACTION: JN to share update in school leadership comms on Free School Meal auto-enrolment
- Banding Review
- Working Group now established, led by Claire Merchant-Jones and working with the PeopleToo organisation
- All other actions completed or in hand.
- Minutes were agreed as an accurate record.
Actions:
- Finance colleagues to liaise with Scomis and report to November meeting on ongoing Bromcom and Unit4 issues locally and nationally.
- JN to encourage ScoMIS to discuss with national Bromcom colleagues to ascertain the current difficulties.
- JN to communicate to maintained schools to update with information of issues that are currently being addressed. KB to draft.
- JN / Finance colleagues to share communications with external partners to clearly outline communication routes for any problems with Unit4.
- JN to share update in school leadership comms on Free School Meal auto-enrolment
2. DSG Monitoring – Month 4
- Dedicated Schools Grant is forecasting an overspend of £54.4 million which is a net in year overspend of £10 million over that budgeted (£44 million). This assumes management plan actions of £22.2 million identified in the Safety Valve Intervention plan will be achieved in this financial year.
- Noted £4.5m management action linked to Safety Valve, with further £6.5m forecast as to be achieved. ACTION: AF to clarify the complexities around reporting of actual DSG budget position and savings expectations.
- DSG statutory override remains in place until the end of 2027/28.
- Number of EHCPs being issued has slowed compared to numbers forecast, but is expected to increase as the Inclusion & Learning redesign moves forward, and teams become more stabilised.
- Noted £103.4m Early Years settlement for 2025/26 linked to expansion of early years entitlements.
- July DfE Safety Valve monitoring submission was discussed. The demand for new EHCPs continues to increase, and a new approach to managing the backlog of children’s EHCP requests has been adopted within the SEND Operations team.
- Noted the ongoing effect of escalating spend on placements in independent specialist provision. A key SEND Transformation programme focus includes strengthening of commissioning and contract monitoring of the independent sector with a view to achieving better outcomes for children and value for money.
- Considered what scope is available for Devon County Council to develop its own special school development outside of DfE parameters. Building Inclusive Communities programme strand will provide focus for future development of specialist provision that meets evidence-based local SEN needs, through a SEN sufficiency strategy.
- SFG raised the impact of the Inclusion and Learning redesign on services currently supporting schools, and concerns of the unintended consequence on other areas of the service and to individual children. JN reiterated that during the redesign process some services may not be delivered as previously. The redesign is focused on identifying functions necessary meet the needs of and to improve services to children, families and schools, which in turn will have a positive impact across the education landscape.
- SFG considered the data around EHCPs, and acknowledged that in-depth review would take place at SEND Transformation Board.
- The group discussed the national landscape around specialist education provision and demand for EHC assessments.
Actions:
- AF to clarify the actual DSG budget position.
3. High Needs Update
- SEND Transformation Update / Safety Valve delivery / next steps update
- Noted SEND Transformation Strategic Partnership Board has endorsed a shift to four key programme strands:
- 1) Investing in Schools by Getting the Basics Right
- 2) Improving Experiences for CYP (Children and Young People), Families, Schools, and Partners
- This will ensure enhanced quality of EHCPs and SEND operations processes and practice, and communication standards
- 3) Reshaping our services to support vulnerable children in Education.
- This includes reshaping of the Inclusion and Learning service, structures and performance frameworks. Inclusion and Leadership teams now in place, with a locality focus to improve relationships at a community level.
- Relational and restorative practice are being adopted and embedded across the Inclusion and Learning service.
- 4) Building Inclusive Learning Communities
- Will consider sufficiency, development and expansion of inclusive SEND provision.
- The Board and the DfE have endorsed the new programme model, and regular reporting will be shared through SFG going forward.
- Colleagues were keen that there is clarity around the SFG role in monitoring the Transformation programme, particularly around how it affects individual schools and settings.
- Noted concerns around the impact of the new inspection framework for Early Years settings hosting children with SEND. Funding routes and support for EY settings with children with EHCPs has been complex as not aligned to high needs funding and support for school age children. Noted intention for the LA to review support to meet needs for children with SEND in Early Years settings.
- SFG shared concerns around possible impact of the new inspection framework on inclusive practice in schools and settings. JN reiterated that through the redesign, DCC is moving to a better place to support schools with attendance, exclusions and inclusion.
- LA officers are committed to communicate and work in a relational and collaborative way with schools, settings and MATs to encourage improved inclusive practice in the renewed Inclusion and Learning service.
- Improved sharing of data sets, currently under development, at a community and locality level will better inform schools around local needs and response.
- All agreed there was a need for improved briefing and training to be available for governing bodies in avoiding exclusions.
4. Maintained School Audit Process
- SFG agreed there is a need for review of the audit process for Devon’s maintained schools.
- Concerns were shared about reduced rigour around processes, and that comparisons with the academy internal audit procedure would be beneficial.
Action:
- JN to instigate a review of the maintained school audit process.
5. Items for DEF
- Review of Education Governance. ACTION: JN to prepare proposal for DEF to consider at November meeting.
- Bromcom / Unit 4 update – review and compare range of issues still being experienced by schools. ACTION: JN to provide update at next DSLS SLG on 18/9/25.
6. Any Other Business
- AF confirmed that recent F40 survey has been completed and submitted by local authority colleagues.
Future meeting dates
- Wednesday 5 November (09.15 – 12.30 – Face to face at County Hall)
- Agenda to include: Bromcom/ Unit4 update, Early Years Grant payments,
- Friday 9 January 2026 (09.15 – 12.30 – Teams)
- Wednesday 4 March 2026 (09.15 – 12.30 – Teams)
- Wednesday 3 June 2026 (09.15 – 12.30 – Teams)
- Wed 15 July 2026 – Consultation Working Group (09.30 – 12.30 – County Hall)
- Wednesday 9 September 2026 (09.15 – 12.30 – Teams followed by Consultation Working Group)
- Wednesday 4 November 2026 (09.15 – 12.30 – Face to face at County Hall)
- Friday 9 January 2027 (09.15 – 12.30 – Teams)
- Wednesday 3 March 2027 (09.15 – 12.30 – Teams)