{"id":23257,"date":"2025-04-02T11:26:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T10:26:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/?post_type=dcc_docs_document&#038;p=23257"},"modified":"2025-04-02T11:26:45","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T10:26:45","slug":"schools-finance-group-notes-of-meeting-on-11-november-2024","status":"publish","type":"dcc_docs_document","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/document\/schools-finance-group-notes-of-meeting-on-11-november-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Schools Finance Group: Notes of meeting on 11 November 2024"},"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 doc-aside is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<aside class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><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=\"#other-dcc-officers\">Other DCC Officers<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#apologies\">Apologies<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#1-minutes-of-previous-meeting-6-march-2024\">1. Minutes of previous meeting &#8211; 9 September 2024<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#2-high-needs-update\">2. DSG Monitoring &#8211; Month 6<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#3-dsg-outturn-report-2023-24\">3. Access Pension Fund<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#4-carry-forwards-from-2023-24\">4. Unit 4 Systems Update<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#6-schools-support-panel-ssp-formerly-fips\">5. Any Other Business<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#future-meeting-dates\">Future meeting dates<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n<\/aside>\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 doc-content is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:75%\">\n<article class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"attendance\">Attendance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dcc\">DCC<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Matthew Thorpe &#8211; Deputy Director of Finance and Public Value<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adrian Fox \u2013 Head Accountant (Education &amp; Learning)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jack Newton &#8211; Deputy Director, Education<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kellie Knott &#8211; SEND Improvement Director<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Heidi Watson-Jones \u2013 Safety Valve Project Officer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\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<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Jamie Stone &#8211; Denbury Primary, Penny Hammett &#8211; FORT Federation, Christopher Tribble &#8211; Honiton Primary<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Secondary<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Graham Hill &#8211; Pilton Community College<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Special Schools<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Sarah Pickering &#8211; Mill Water School, Hannah Smart &#8211; ACE Tiverton<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dag\">DAG<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Adrian Hines &#8211; Primary Governors, Alex Walmsley &#8211; Secondary Governors, Faith Butler &#8211; Special Governors<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Early Years Providers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gemma Rolstone &#8211; Puffins Childcare<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"other-dcc-officers\">Other DCC Officers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Karlien Bond \u2013 Senior Accountant (Schools)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Katrina Harverson &#8211; Senior Accountant (Education)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>John Rowe (part) &#8211; Business Change Manager<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Michael Heard (part) &#8211; ICT Business Partner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"apologies\">Apologies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Paul Walker &#8211; First Federation, Sammy Crook &#8211; Tiverton High School, Tristan Muller-Forster &#8211; Tavistock College, Rob Gasson &#8211; Wave<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-minutes-of-previous-meeting-6-march-2024\">1. Minutes of previous meeting &#8211; 9 September 2024<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>JN<\/strong> to circulate the number of maintained schools currently sitting within the School Effectiveness Priority support levels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>KB provided outlined that the per-pupil equivalent amount of the Centrally Retained Services (Phase Associations, School Admissions, AnyComms + and Emotional, Psychological &amp; Social Wellbeing Services) equates to \u00a310.33.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All other actions completed or in hand.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Minutes were agreed as an accurate record.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Action &#8211; JN to circulate the number of maintained schools currently sitting within the Priority support levels.<br><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-high-needs-update\">2. DSG Monitoring &#8211; Month 6<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SFG noted in-year increase in overall accumulated DSG deficit of \u00a345.8m, \u00a314.6m increase within the financial year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Corporate resource is being provided to SEND programme teams to support transformation and improvement work.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noted data around the increase in number of EHCPs issued; following additional DfE pressure to address timeliness of issuing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintained &amp; Academy special schools are projected to overspend by \u00a33.9m.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a35m in-year pressure relating to other special school fees (independent).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noted forecast overspend on SEND in FE, which represents an increase in learners successfully accessing mainstream post 16 provision.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additional 70 SEND places are being created in FE from September 2024.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>100% increase in issue of EHCPs compared to 4 months ago \u2013 which will have an unintended financial impact on Safety Valve targets for the current financial year.&nbsp; The backlog is now expected to be cleared faster than the 3-year timeframe which rapidly increases costs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The group considered the financial position in the light of the Safety Valve programme projections and noted the DfE has been advised of the situation.&nbsp; DfE have acknowledged that other Safety Valve authorities are experiencing similar challenging circumstances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Considered the potential impact to the local authority\u2019s financial position should the statutory override for DSG Deficits cease and the management of the DSG deficit as a negative reserve no longer be an option.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The next monitoring Safety Valve submission is due to the DfE on 27 November.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reviews are ongoing for the approval of spend on plus packages, AP and independent placement decisions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SFG discussed concerns around inclusive capacity of schools to meet SEN needs prior to requesting EHC needs assessments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Conversations continue with health around appropriate joint funding of SEND provision.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>7-10% budgetary increase has been indicated to local authorities, a significant proportion of which will be attributed to pay awards and other national initiatives to be confirmed.&nbsp; Further guidance from DfE is expected to provide clarity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AW further requested that the Deputy Director, Education &amp; Learning look into processes to enable the local authority to access automatic payment of pupil premium.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-dsg-outturn-report-2023-24\">3. Access Pension Fund<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>KB outlined the issue, highlighted at the end of the summer term, resulting in 33 schools or federation budgets being affected by a systems issue which did not correctly update teachers&#8217; pension employer contribution rates in some instances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Schools affected were notified early in the autumn term.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Devon County Council finance colleagues and SFG representatives to meet with Access to consider the implications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was recognised that the communication to schools could have been handled better, and that the issue caused distress and put significant pressure on school leaders affected.<strong>&nbsp; <\/strong>The group agreed that should a similar issue arise in future a wider communication will be issued to all schools while further investigations take place.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>KB<\/strong> to check the contractual arrangements between individual schools (or the Local Authority) and Access.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Affected schools\u2019 finance consultants have been in touch to offer support; SFG requested that these schools continue to be fully supported to be given time to approach ongoing budget management challenges as a result of the Access issue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Schools will be advised to manage the Access deficit situation separately to other budget pressures if necessary.&nbsp; <strong>Finance colleagues<\/strong> to outline how such positions can be managed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noted that all schools received the correct school budget share amount, however as a result of the software issue, schools had allocated spend differently than they otherwise would have.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mindful of priority to ensure that any further changes in pensions rates are transferred correctly into school budgets going forwards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Actions:<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>KB<\/strong> to check the contractual arrangements between individual schools and Access<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Finance colleagues<\/strong> to outline how budget deficit positions significantly affected by the Access issue can be managed going forwards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-carry-forwards-from-2023-24\">4. Unit 4 Systems Update<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SFG received a presentation outlining the progress of the Unit 4 finance system implementation programme.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Information will be shared with schools shortly and again in the new year to explain how processes within the new system interface hub will operate, including new coding structures.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noted that SIMS hosting and support from ScoMIS will cease from 31 March 2025.&nbsp; Support will be provided for schools to ensure a smooth transition to a new MIS and finance system.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Schools will receive a statement outlining the current licensing arrangements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SFG shared that communications with maintained schools around the system change have been very helpful.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-schools-support-panel-ssp-formerly-fips\">5. Any Other Business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>None<\/li>\n<\/ul>\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=\"future-meeting-dates\">Future meeting dates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Friday 10 January 2025 (09.15 &#8211; 12.30 &#8211; Teams)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wednesday 5 March 2025 (09.15 &#8211; 12.30 &#8211; Teams)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wednesday 4 June 2025 (09.15 &#8211; 12.30 (Teams)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wednesday 9 July 2025 (09.15 &#8211; 12.30 (Teams)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wednesday 10 September 2025 (all day &#8211; face to face at County Hall)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wednesday 5 November 2025 (09.15 &#8211; 12.30 &#8211; face to face at County Hall)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Friday 9 January 2026 (09.15 &#8211; 12.30 &#8211; Teams)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wednesday 4 March 2026 (09.15 &#8211; 12.30 &#8211; Teams)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/article>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"document-meta-acf-block clearfix \" id=\"block_acf-block-67ed10e34100a\"><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=\"2025-04-02T11:26:43+00:00\">02\/04\/2025 11:26am<\/time><\/p><p class=\"dcc-documents-updated\"><span>Last Updated<\/span> <time datetime=\"2024-11-19T17:37:00+00:00\">19\/11\/2024 5:37pm<\/time><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Attendance DCC Devon Schools Leadership Services Primary Secondary Graham Hill &#8211; Pilton Community College Special Schools Sarah Pickering &#8211; Mill Water School, Hannah Smart &#8211; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":981,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"documents_category":[],"class_list":["post-23257","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\/23257","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\/23257\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23258,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/documents\/23257\/revisions\/23258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"dcc_docs_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/documents_category?post=23257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}