Management Information Sheet
Schools and High Needs Funding Changes for Financial Year 2018-19
Thank you to all the schools and governors that took the time to complete the online survey and those that communicated their thoughts to us directly, via the finance surgeries and Headteacher associations. Although the timescale between the announcement of the National Funding Formula and the deadline for decisions from Schools Forum was short, there was a good response rate and a good range of feedback.
Schools National Funding Formula
The outcome of the National Funding Formula consultation was shared with Norfolk School's Forum on the 24 November 2017, and the proposed changes for funding schools in 2018/19, will go forward to Childrens Services committee for decision on 16 January 2018.
The Local Authority will be putting forward a recommendation to Childrens Services Committee to distribute the additional funding of £7.5m via the existing Norfolk local formula, but use the governments recommended primary and secondary minimum per pupil levels.
A working party will be put in place with all types of schools represented to consider a phased or full implementation of the National Funding Formula for 2019/20.
The full paper of recommendations, and feedback from schools and schools forum will be available for you to view early next week on the Norfolk Schools website : www.schools.norfolk.gov.uk/School-administration/Finance/Norfolk-schools-forum/Agendas-and-Papers
Please note that the technical papers that were provided during the Consultation process were based on historical pupil numbers and that the budget for 2018/19 will be based on October 2017 census numbers.
For further information please follow the link to the "Fair Funding" section
High Needs Block Funding Changes
The High Needs Block in Norfolk, is under extreme pressure and is currently forecasting an in year overspend of £8.887m. In order to mitigate some of the pressure we consulted on the transfer of the maximum amount of funding of 0.5% from the schools block to the high needs block. This was agreed as a one year only transfer by Schools Forum.
A working group of schools forum members and officers has been reviewing the possible actions for reducing the overspend on the high needs block. The comments from the consultation and the recommendations of the group are covered in a presentation to the Norfolk Schools Forum.
Please view the presentation on the Norfolk Schools Forum website link below, further detailed work will be carried out on the recommendations, but these changes will be implemented from 2018/19, and schools will need to incorporate these funding changes into their budget planning for 2018/19,
Please view the high needs presentation and schools forum feedback on the Norfolk Schools website.