Agenda item

The Chair updated the commission on her discussions with St Mary Magdalene C of E Primary School (SMMS) and Kintore Way Nursery School (KW)

·  With regards to SMMS, nursery has been advertised and scheduled to start in January 2024 and discussions with the diocese are ongoing with requirements for the nursery

·  With regards to KW, meetings took place with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) teachers and officers on 23 November 2023 on SEND strategy; Resource based provisions discussions have taken place and recommendations’ produced have been sent to Anna Chiva Head of SEND, Southwark Council.; wider discussions around under 5 SEND provisions have also taken place, however no progress on piloting a resource based provision.

The commission then heard from Councillor Jasmine Ali and Alasdair Smith on St Mary Magdalene C of E Primary School and Kintore Way Nursery School on the following points

·  Consultation on SMMS has been paused to achieve more desirable outcomes

·  On KW, meeting Chair of Governors who is committed to balancing the budget, meetings with Unions, Headteachers, staff, children and parents

·  Positive feedback from parents on discussions; Impact of falling rolls on funding for high (45%) SEND provisions nursery such as KW; Budget deficit issues-letter written to MP Gillian Keegan

·  Cross Party campaign for the issue of falling rolls, budget deficits and funding

·  Southwark Council already contributed £550k for funding KW budget deficit also includes a 5 year budget recovery plan

·  Government announcement of funding of £0.5m for education and a substantial amount for the benefit of KW nursery, however to be ratified by cabinet in coming weeks

·  Letter to Martin Wilkinson, Chief Operating Officer NHS, for children with SEND and for increasing EHCP; subsequent visits to and meetings at KW with Martin, Alasdair and Cllr Ali for discussions on SEND.

The commission then asked questions on the following points

·  15 redundancies at KW would result in a loss of under 5 SEND provision for children at the nursery, incurring a higher cost for parents in early years and even higher costs for schools in late years; exploring the options for a pilot in resource based provision

·  Lack of communication with SMMS and clarification on pausing consultation; Chair of governors driving the balancing of budget; loss of SEND skills and expertise with redundancies at KW (low-paid high skilled staff).

Cllr Ali informed the commission that it’s not just KW that is facing budget issues, Ann Bernadt Nursery School is another example of a nursery undergoing consultation on amalgamation. Discussions are on-going with regards to resource based provisions in nurseries. Cllr Ali also clarified that KW is not closing but undergoing restructuring and redundancies whilst there are nurseries that are closing or being amalgamated.

Councillor Ali explained to the commission that SMMS consultation has been paused so that the diocese could look at possible amalgamations. At KW the budget deficit is £0.5m and this will keep accruing over time, there is a need for a budget recovery plan and efforts are being made to establish this with the Headteachers and the Chair of governors.

Alasdair informed the commission that the commission that schools are responsible for their own budget according to the law and also that the funding from Department for Education (DfE) is provided on the basis that it would be negotiated between the council and the schools. Furthermore, children with special needs fall under protected characteristics and it would be unlawful for them to be refused special needs education and training.

The commission then asked questions on the following themes

·  Criteria’s that make KW eligible to receive a signifanct amount within £0.5m of DfE funding when compared to other nurseries

·  Learnings from lack of communications with SMMS about closure/amalgamation

·  Budgetary considerations for provisions of SEND children Under 5 in nurseries

·  Balancing budgets in schools long term and short term; and how they can be replicated throughout the borough

The commission learned from Alasdair that the Council has a responsibility to deal with all nurseries that have a budget deficit not just KW. All schools in a budget deficit will be considered for financial aid and also all budgetary decisions are discussed in the schools forum. The number of schools in budget deficit has gone down from 24 to 12 schools. DfE are paying £20m on the basis that councils invest better in schools with regards to funding in SEND.

Alasdair explained to the commission that maintained nursery schools have economy of scale and injection of funding from DfE. Dulwich School is an example of maintained school who have managed their financial difficulties.

The Chair then suggested recommendations on the following topics

·  Overview of nursery budgets and financial issues cross referenced with their SEND provisions

·  Councillors and community members who are aware of schools and nurseries not getting support to contact the commission.

·  Distribution (criteria) of DfE funding amongst schools; surplus budget schools.

·  Following schools that are having funding issues