{"id":14882,"date":"2023-03-15T15:22:11","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T15:22:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/educationandfamilies\/?post_type=dcc_docs_document&#038;p=14882"},"modified":"2025-09-05T08:48:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T07:48:49","slug":"schools-finance-group-notes-of-meeting-8-march-2023","status":"publish","type":"dcc_docs_document","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/document\/schools-finance-group-notes-of-meeting-8-march-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Schools Finance Group: Notes of meeting 8 March 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#key-items-for-def-to-note\">Key items for DEF to note<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#attendance\">Attendance<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#dcc\">DCC<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#devon-schools-leadership-services\">Devon Schools Leadership Services<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#dag\">DAG<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#early-years-providers\">Early Years Providers<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#other-dcc-officers\">Other DCC Officers<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#apologies\">Apologies<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#dcc-1\">DCC<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#devon-schools-leadership-service\">Devon Schools Leadership Service<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#dag-2\">DAG<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#1-minutes-of-previous-meeting-6-january-2023\">1. Minutes of previous meeting &#8211; 6 January 2023<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#2-dsg-monitoring-month-10\">2. DSG Monitoring \u2013 month 10<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#3-carry-forwards-2022-23\">3. Carry Forwards 2022-23<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#4-mutual-fund-update\">4. Mutual Fund Update<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#5-homes-for-ukraine-funding\">5. Homes for Ukraine funding<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#6-growth-fund\">6. Growth Fund<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#7-early-years-funding\">7. Early Years Funding<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#8-aob\">8. AOB<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#9-items-for-def\">9. Items for DEF<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#future-meeting-dates\">Future meeting dates:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"dcc-documents-cpt-fixed dccdocs-sticky dccdocs-hidden\">\r\n    <div class=\"grid-container\">\r\n        <div class=\"grid-x grid-margin-x\">\r\n            <div class=\"cell medium-12\">\r\n                <a class=\"back-to-top hide-for-print\" href=\"#content\"><svg class=\"app-c-back-to-top__icon\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"13\" height=\"17\" viewBox=\"0 0 13 17\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M6.5 0L0 6.5 1.4 8l4-4v12.7h2V4l4.3 4L13 6.4z\"><\/path><\/svg> Contents<\/a>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:75%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:41.333%\"><div class=\"document-meta-acf-block clearfix \" id=\"block_acf-block-68ba95df8c33e\"><div class=\" dcc-documents-meta\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget dcc-documents-widget-block\"><div class=\"dcc-documents-widget-box2\"><p class=\"dcc-documents-published\"><span>Published<\/span> <time datetime=\"2023-03-15T15:22:11+00:00\">15\/03\/2023 3:22pm<\/time><\/p><p class=\"dcc-documents-updated\"><span>Last Updated<\/span> <time datetime=\"2025-09-05T08:48:49+00:00\">05\/09\/2025 8:48am<\/time><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:58.666%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"key-items-for-def-to-note\">Key items for DEF to note<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Item 5 \u2013 Homes for Ukraine funding<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>DEF to note projected year-end balance of \u00a31.3m in government H4U funds held by DCC.&nbsp; Further communications to be issued to ensure awareness of funding available to schools with Ukrainian pupils on roll.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Item 6 \u2013 Growth Fund<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>DEF to note projected year-end deficit balance due to a range of factors and a planned review of one-off additional funding for exceptional growth in schools.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Item 7 \u2013 Early Years funding<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>DEF to note proposed use of carry forward funding to boost support for children with speech, language, communication, and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Colleagues to look into provision of support funding for Early Years settings with Ukrainian children on roll.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Item 8 \u2013 Review of SFG and DEF dates in January<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>SFG Recommendation to DEF<\/strong> to move January SFG and DEF meeting dates back by one week (from 17th to 24th Jan 2024 \u2013 which will still meet Cabinet and DfE deadlines) to allow additional time to consider implications of &nbsp;funding statement normally issued by DfE just before Christmas break.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"attendance\">Attendance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dcc\">DCC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Adrian Fox \u2013 Head Accountant (Education &amp; Learning), Rachel Shaw \u2013 Interim Head of Education (Delivery), Heidi Watson-Jones \u2013 Safety Valve Project Officer<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"devon-schools-leadership-services\">Devon Schools Leadership Services<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Primary<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Christopher Tribble \u2013 Honiton Primary<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Secondary<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Sammy Crook -Tiverton Federation, Alan Blackburn \u2013 Uffculme School, Rob Gammon \u2013 QE<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alternative Provision<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Rob Gasson \u2013 Wave Multi Academy Trust<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dag\">DAG<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Alex Walmsley \u2013 Secondary Governors, Adrian Hines \u2013 Primary Governors<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"early-years-providers\">Early Years Providers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Gemma Rolstone \u2013 Puffins Childcare<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"other-dcc-officers\">Other DCC Officers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Karlien Bond \u2013 Senior Accountant (Schools), Katrina Harverson \u2013 Principal Accountant \u2013 Education and Learning, Simon Niles \u2013 Schools Planning, Pupil Placement &amp; Commissioning Manager<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"apologies\">Apologies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dcc-1\">DCC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Mat Thorpe \u2013 (chair) Deputy Director of Finance and Public Value<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"devon-schools-leadership-service\">Devon Schools Leadership Service<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Primary<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Jamie Stone \u2013 Denbury Primary, Paul Walker \u2013 First Federation Trust, Penny Hammett \u2013 FORT Federation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Secondary<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Fay Bowler \u2013 Braunton Academy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Special Schools<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Keith Bennett \u2013 Marland School, Sarah Pickering \u2013 Mill Water School<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dag-2\">DAG<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Faith Butler \u2013 Special School Governors<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-minutes-of-previous-meeting-6-january-2023\">1. Minutes of previous meeting &#8211; 6 January 2023<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>MT \/ JR to liaise re. negotiation of top up for special schools for exceeded places \u2013 <strong>AF<\/strong> to follow up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communication due to go out to schools highlighting sparsity coming into base funding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ongoing actions for high needs funding sub group re. communications and identifying trends in high needs savings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All other actions complete or in hand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Minutes agreed as an accurate record.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-dsg-monitoring-month-10\">2. DSG Monitoring \u2013 month 10<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>DSG deficit projected to rise to \u00a3127m by end of financial year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a34.2m savings have been achieved, however \u00a34.6m now deemed unachievable, due to a range of factors within the SEND Projects<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Confirmation still awaited from DfE re. inclusion in Safety Valve Intervention Programme.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SEND strategy day was held with new CEO, Donna Manson who has now established a Gold Command structure to address SEND improvement and the HNB deficit, in a similar structure to emergency response management.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Deficit projected to increase to \u00a3153m without financial support, which would deplete DCC reserves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SFG noted summary of high needs block position<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Report noted<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-carry-forwards-2022-23\">3. Carry Forwards 2022-23<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Growth Fund surplus noted \u2013 part of which will be used to transfer to the High Needs Block as per previous discussions at SFG and DEF.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Position noted<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-mutual-fund-update\">4. Mutual Fund Update<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Noted current volatility of claims<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Predicting a small surplus to still be in place at year-end<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-homes-for-ukraine-funding\">5. Homes for Ukraine funding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Agreed strategy for managing government funding has been put in place.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a33.5m total funding has been received with funding going to schools and DCC support services (EMTAS, and Admissions team).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>English speaking Ukrainian teacher engagement has been well received<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noted some expenditure on personalised home to school transport.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a31.8m currently unallocated \u2013 projected to be \u00a31.3m into new financial year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Concerned that not all schools are claiming the funding available to them, and some pupils are not being identified.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noted government H4U scheme has been extended, but no confirmation that any further funding will be made available to local authorities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clarity being sought on support funding available for the FE sector or whether they would be eligible to receive some of this funding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SFG noted the prudent approach to funding allocation given the ongoing conflict and lack of clarity for funding post 2022-23.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SFG felt that it will be important to continue to raise awareness that funding is available to schools still receiving Ukrainian pupils.&nbsp; Schools are being welcoming and demonstrating resilience well.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noted that some additional SEN needs are now emerging as children become more settled and included.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additional SEN needs and associated costs will need to be monitored and possibly additional contingency considered if needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SFG would be supportive of continuing half-termly allocations to schools should further funding become available.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Further monitoring and update to be discussed at next SFG in June.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Action:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>RS\/SN<\/strong> to issue further information through School Leadership Update to further raise awareness of funding and support available.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SN<\/strong> to provide further monitoring update report to next SFG<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-growth-fund\">6. Growth Fund<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A Growth Fund underspend had been projected at the time of SFG and DEF discussions around use of Growth Fund to support HNB.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National Non Domestic Rates for maintained schools, a reduction in APT funding, shortfall after reduction in the sparsity factor, and further in-year growth have also impacted negatively on Growth Fund, resulting in a deficit balance of \u00a3808k at year-end.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Understand funding will be made available for Afghan bridging hotel costs, which will change bottom line.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2022-23 Admissions round has been challenging \u2013 with some reluctance emerging for schools admitting additional pupils, and feeling that growth funding associated with a \u2018bulge year\u2019 would be inadequate. SFG agreed that Simon Niles conduct a review of one-off additional funding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allocation of slippage against the overspend has been proposed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Finance colleagues confirmed that there would be no proposals to recoup funding from Schools Block.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Action:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>SN<\/strong> to review Growth Funding one-off allocations to schools experiencing a \u2018bulge year\u2019 of admissions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-early-years-funding\">7. Early Years Funding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SFG noted proposal that funding rates for Early Years providers be increased<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Funding increases notified by DfE before Christmas and DCC were able to implement some increases from Spring Term rather than waiting until April 2023, which was well received by providers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noted cessation of grant funding for Teachers pay grant and Teachers Pension employer contribution grant from April 2023.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noted carry forward proposal of \u00a3100k be used to boost support for speech, language and communication, and SEMH.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Understand that settings are managing any incoming Ukrainian refugee children well, however the service continues to consider extending the offer for these children.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>GR felt that providers would welcome additional funding for support for Ukrainian children, and additional inclusion funding would be gratefully received.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noted challenging environment for Early Years provider settings, and government funding increases do not meet the required level of support including and increases in minimum wage, and business rates for providers, and covering grant funding around pay and pensions.&nbsp; Ongoing lobbying in place to raise the issues with MPs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Report noted<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Action:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Marie Stone to liaise with Simon Niles<\/strong> re. accessing funding to increase childcare offer for Ukrainian children<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-aob\">8. AOB<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3.4% uplift for AP budgets for 2023-24<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>to be discussed at High Needs Funding Sub Group<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Timetabling for year-end \u2013 all information on the finance blog<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>27\/3 for submitting March claims for Mutual Fund<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>24\/3 for submitting year-end accruals information &nbsp;\u2013 giving a week for finance to process prior to end of term.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Review of SFG and DEF dates in January<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lateness of information from DfE prior to Christmas makes situation difficult to process<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SFG agreed<\/strong> recommendation to move meeting dates back by one week which will still meet Cabinet and DfE deadlines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-items-for-def\">9. Items for DEF<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Standard Monitoring items<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Growth Fund<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Carry Forwards<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"future-meeting-dates\">Future meeting dates:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wednesday 7 June 2023 (09.15 \u2013 12.30 \u2013 Teams)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monday 10 July 2023 (12.30 \u2013 15.45 \u2013 Teams)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wednesday 13 September (09.15 \u2013 15.30 \u2013 face to face \u2013 Venue tbc)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monday 6 November 2023 (14.00 \u2013 17.30) \u2013 Teams<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Friday 5 January 2024 (09.15 \u2013-12.30 \u2013 Teams) \u2013 proposed move to Friday 12 January.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wednesday 6 March 2024 (09.15 \u2013 12.30 \u2013 Teams)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key items for DEF to note Item 5 \u2013 Homes for Ukraine funding Item 6 \u2013 Growth Fund Item 7 \u2013 Early Years funding Item [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":981,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"documents_category":[],"class_list":["post-14882","dcc_docs_document","type-dcc_docs_document","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"updated":"","dccdocs_documents":null,"section-guidance":"","sections":null},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/documents\/14882","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/documents"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/dcc_docs_document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/981"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/documents\/14882\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":71429,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/documents\/14882\/revisions\/71429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14882"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"dcc_docs_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/documents_category?post=14882"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}