Management Information Sheet
Fair Funding Consultation with Schools Autumn 2022
The Local Authority (LA) is consulting with schools via an online survey to gather views on the schools' funding formula for mainstream schools and academies for the 2023-24 financial year, as well as proposals for minor updates to the Scheme for Financing Local Authority Maintained Schools.
In all formula options, the LA is proposing to continue to mirror the factor values and methodologies of the National Funding Formula. All options are expected to provide additional funding for schools in 2023-24 (except where amalgamations have occurred) compared to 2022-23 based on like-for-like data. Final budget shares will be based on October 2022 census data and may therefore increase or decrease.
We are now involved in the Department for Education (DfE) 'Safety Valve' programme as part of the ongoing plan to return the High Needs Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) to a balanced budget, due to the ongoing and significant pressure for specialist placements and SEND provision overall. As part of our negotiations with the DfE the Local Authority is asking schools for feedback on the impact of different levels of Schools Block to High Needs Block funding transfer in 2023-24, in line with the expectation of the DSG grant conditions issued by the Department for Education. While the revised High Needs Block plan will be increasing the overall high needs resources available to mainstream schools, we want to hear from schools regarding the impact of Schools Block transfers to enable this.
The LA is also consulting schools on the use of the funding cap on per-pupil gains within the formula.
To view the proposals and technical papers, please visit the Fair Funding page on the Norfolk Schools website or click on this link to open the survey.
The survey will be available this week and will close on Tuesday 1 November 2022.
A collation of the feedback will be provided to Schools Forum on 16 November.