Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2020/129

Contact: Sarah Fogden, Finance Business Partner (Children’s Services) Tel: 07557 082613

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CMDECS04).

The local authority is required to set a funding formula for 2- year old and for 3 and 4-year old provision. The 2021-22 formula proposed is in line with the Department for Education (DfE) national formula introduced in 2017-18.

The Cabinet Member for Education & Cultural Services is RECOMMENDED to:

a)    Pass the funding increase received by Oxfordshire onto providers in full and approve the 2021-22 Early Years funding formula for 3 and 4- year old provision with an underlying hourly rate of £4.18 (excluding the Deprivation supplement, SEN Inclusion Fund and Contingency).

b)   Pass the funding increase received by Oxfordshire onto providers in full and approve the 2021-22 Early Years funding formula for 2- year old provision at an hourly rate of £5.68.

Recommendations approved.

Document considered: Report on Formal Approval of Early Years Funding Formula 2021/22.

A copy is attached to the signed copy of this decision.

Summary of representations made at the meeting

The local authority is required to set a funding formula for 2- year old and for 3 and 4-year old provision. The Cabinet Member for Education & Cultural Services 2021-22 formula considered a report seeking approval to the proposed funding formula, that is in line with the Department for Education (DfE) national formula introduced in 2017-18.

The following comments were received from Councillor Emma Turnbull, Shadow Cabinet Member for Education & Cultural Services.

“I am very sorry for not being able to attend today to discuss the early years funding formula.

Early years funding was in a precarious position even before the coronavirus pandemic. The crisis has increased the levels of uncertainty in the sector.

We know that pre-Covid the poorest children started school already 11 months behind their better-off peers. Quality early years settings, including our nursery schools, play an important role in narrowing the attainment gap. That is why we must do everything possible to support early years settings throughout the county. We do not currently know how many of these providers will be at risk of closure due to the Covid crisis.

Therefore, I think that passing on the full increase in funding that Oxfordshire has received to providers is the right approach, so long as those providers are firmly encouraged and supported to prioritise the needs of vulnerable pupils and narrowing the attainment gap.

Thank you for taking the time to consider these comments.”

Sarah Fogden, Finance Business Partner (Children’s) advised that the Schools Forum had considered the proposals on 4 February 2021 and had endorsed the recommendations. She highlighted one risk in that the funding was based on the January 2021 census day count. The numbers of children in school was low due to covid and were expected to increase. This could lead to a mismatch between funding and what the Council needed to pay.

Cabinet Member’s comments

Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, Cabinet Member for Education and Cultural Services, thanked Councillor Turnbull for her comments and agreed with the comments made.

Councillor Lindsay-Gale noted that she had received a full briefing and had had time to consider the recommendations and was happy to approve. Thereby, I confirm my decision as follows:

(a)       Pass the funding increase received by Oxfordshire onto providers in full and approve the 2021-22 Early Years funding formula for 3 and 4- year old provision with an underlying hourly rate of £4.18 (excluding the Deprivation supplement, SEN Inclusion Fund and Contingency)

(b)       Pass the funding increase received by Oxfordshire onto providers in full and approve the 2021-22 Early Years funding formula for 2- year old provision at an hourly rate of £5.68