Decision:
Cabinet to:
Decision details:
Details of the merits and considerations relating to the DPP are set out in the report to Full Council and Cabinet on 9 January.
Acceptance by Ministers of Kent and Medway on the Devolution Priority Programme will commit the County Council, working with Medway Council and the District and Borough Councils in Kent to the following:
In line with the details set out in the Ministerial letter and the understanding that acceptance onto the Devolution Priority Programme is directly related to the Government’s view of whether elections can and should be postponed, this decision also makes the request to delay the elections as a logical corollary of the requested Devolution arrangements.
It should be noted that the decision on KCC’s acceptance onto the DPP and any delay of elections will be taken by Ministers.
Reason for Urgency:
Following the publication of the English Devolution White Paper on 16 December 2024 the Government proposes to establish a Devolution Priority Programme for a limited number of areas which wish to access the benefits of both devolution and local government reorganisation as quickly as possible. The deadline for applications to the programme is 10 January 2025.
The decision to request Kent and Medway be included in the Devolution Priority Programme is a matter for the Executive pursuant to section 7 of the KCC Constitution and the relevant legislation.
However, Members received a briefing ahead of an extraordinary County Council meeting that was held on 9 January to provide an opportunity for all Members to debate the issue and provide an informative to assist Cabinet in making their decision.
Background
The publication of the English Devolution White Paper on 16 December 2024 provides a definitive policy position from Government in regards to both devolution and local government reorganisation. The Government proposes to establish a Devolution Priority Programme for a limited number of areas which wish to access the benefits of both devolution and local government reorganisation as quickly as possible.
Entry onto the priority programme will support stronger and more constructive engagement with Ministers and civil servants in developing proposals in a way that works best for Kent and Medway, as well as earlier access to the benefits of devolution in terms of powers, funding (and funding flexibilities) and a national level voice.
In joining the priority programme, it is the quickest route for Kent and Medway to draw down devolved powers and monies from Government to deliver new and reformed services and improvement programmes for the benefit of Kent and Medway residents and businesses. Multiple strategic statements from KCC have placed achieving devolution as a key strategic objective of the council, and entry onto the Devolution Priority Programme provides the quickest route to finally meeting that objective from May 2026. This would then give Kent an immediate stronger voice in discussions on national policy and priorities with Government through membership of the Council of Nations and Regions, and the Mayoral Council.
Moreover, given the criteria for moving to Established MSA status is primarily an 18 month running period, the sooner Kent and Medway delivers an MSA the sooner it can gain the substantive benefits of an integrated settlement with Government, gaining greater freedoms over the use of devolved monies, and seek additional and bespoke devolved powers. The risk of not seeking Devolution Priority Programme status is that Kent and Medway would be further disadvantaged and left behind by an increasing majority of local areas with access to a range of powers and funds that will simply not be otherwise available to Kent and Medway for many years.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision published: 10/01/2025
Effective from: 09/01/2025
Decision:
Cabinet to:
Division affected: (All Division);
Lead officer: David Whittle
Proposed decision
The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services to agree to the adoption of the new Asset Management Strategy 2024-2030.
Reason for the decision
The existing Asset Management Strategy (AMS) is for the period 2018-2023 and so a new AMS strategy is required. The intention is that the new strategy will cover a period of 6 years, from 2024 to 2030.
Background
The AMS is a vital component of Kent County Council’s (KCC) operational and strategic planning. It provides a comprehensive framework for managing KCC’s diverse property assets, including those owned, leased, and tenanted. The AMS aligns with KCC’s broader strategies and policies, ensuring that assets are optimally used, suitably located, and sustainably maintained.
The need for an AMS arises from KCC’s commitment to efficiency, sustainability, and value for taxpayers. It guides the council in making informed decisions about the acquisition, use, and disposal of property assets. This is crucial in meeting the council’s operational needs and strategic objectives.
The AMS also plays a pivotal role in planning for the future use of assets. It outlines how KCC’s services will be delivered in the short, medium, and long term. This forward-thinking approach is essential in an ever-changing landscape, as it allows KCC to adapt and respond effectively to new challenges and opportunities.
Moreover, the AMS is integral to KCC’s transformation goals. As the council embraces new technologies and commissioning models, the strategy supports a flexible workforce and frontline delivery. It ensures that KCC’s property portfolio remains fit-for-purpose and can adapt to changing needs.
In summary, KCC’s AMS is not just about managing property assets. It is a strategic tool that enables the council to deliver efficient services, reduce environmental impact, generate income, and transform the way it operates. Without it, KCC would lack the strategic direction and control needed to manage its assets effectively and meet its service delivery objectives.
Options (other options considered but discarded)
Do nothing – discarded.
How the proposed decision supports the Framing Kent's Future - Our Council Strategy 2022-2026
The proposed decision will support the objectives of the Framing Kent’s Future – Our Council Strategy 2022-2026 by:
The new AMS can support “Framing Kent’s Future” in several ways:
In summary, the new AMS can support “Framing Kent’s Future” by ensuring optimal use of assets, contributing to economic growth, supporting infrastructure development, aiding in environmental sustainability, and enhancing service delivery.
How the proposed decision supports Securing Kent’s Future 2022 -2026: Securing Kents Future - Budget Recovery Strategy.pdf
The proposed decision will support the objectives of the Securing Kent’s Future – Our Council Strategy 2022-2026 by:
The new AMS can support “Securing Kent’s Future” in the following ways:
In summary, the AMS can support “Securing Kent’s Future” by contributing to financial sustainability, enhancing service delivery, supporting budget recovery, and improving efficiency and effectiveness. It aligns with the key priorities of “Securing Kent’s Future” and can help in safeguarding the council’s financial resilience and viability
Decision Maker: Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services
Decision published: 06/01/2025
Effective from: 14/01/2025
Decision:
The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services to:
1. agree to the adoption of the new Asset Management Strategy 2024-2030; and
2. note that the new Asset Management Strategy 2024-2030 and its action plan will be set within the context of the financial constraints and resources of the Council.
Lead officer: Rebecca Anderson
Proposed decision:
That the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills agrees to:
a. Commence the statutory prescribed alterations process by publishing a notice of proposed changes to the designation of specific special schools maintained by Kent Council, which are affected by the Special School Review;
Reason for the decision
Kent County Council (“KCC”) has a duty to plan sufficiency of school places for all children and young people, including those with SEND. As part of its programme to transform SEND provision across the county, KCC is planning special education needs (“SEN”) provision for children across mainstream schools, specialist resource provision in mainstream schools (“SRP”), and special schools. Through its planning, KCC is seeking to ensure that children in Kent have access to suitable education within or near their local community.
In mainstream schools, KCC has defined, clear expectations for supporting children with SEN through its mainstream core standards. In SRPs, places have been planned for children with special educational needs who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (“EHCP”) and can follow a mainstream curriculum with reasonable adjustments, specialist input and/or adaptations. KCC is also planning sufficiency of placements in special schools for children with an EHCP who have severe and complex special educational needs and require an adapted curriculum.
A comprehensive review of special school provision in Kent has not taken place since 2001, and the last review of special school funding occurred in 2010. The current system in Kent is insufficient to achieve KCC’s objective of ensuring that children in Kent have access to suitable education within or near their local community. KCC’s educational planning for children in Kent with SEN is firmly anchored in a values-based approach, that prioritises the needs and well-being of all children and young people with SEN across Kent’s state-funded education settings.
The proposals are based in values of equity, local responsibility for children and young people and their preparation for adulthood. These values have informed proposals to meet children and young people’s needs locally with suitable education provided as close as possible to a child’s home; provide equity of access to special education provision with a commitment to ensuring a child’s access to special educational needs provision is not determined by where they live; provide appropriate and equitable levels of funding so that special schools are able to meet the needs of the children they are expected to provide for; and a commitment to focus on pupil outcomes with an emphasis on progression to independence in adulthood.
The current system is also financially unsustainable, with KCC excessively relying on high-cost places in the private sector, which is insufficient to meet challenges the special school sector in Kent faces today. One of the key intended outcomes of the special school review is to enable the LA to meet its medium to long-term planning for a financially sustainable special school model.
Currently KCC is facing an unsustainable financial position and is one of the Local Authorities participating in the DfE’s Safety Valve Programme. The DfE Safety Valve Programme is designed to eliminate KCC’s deficit in its Dedicated Schools Grant by the end of 2027-2028. By this agreement with the DfE, KCC has agreed to implement a DSG management plan. The plan includes action to implement the Countywide Approach to Inclusive Education (CATIE), by improving the SEN offer in mainstream provision (which is also the subject of a separate consultation) as well as ensuring there is sufficient and consistent capacity across the county to support children with the most severe and complex needs in a special school their local area where possible. The Special School Review undertaken by KCC is a critical part of the wider reforms needed to ensure the Council can provide suitable education for all children with SEN, within the resources available.
By making changes in mainstream schools and SRPs in Kent, and medium-long term planning for children with severe and complex SEN being educated at special schools, KCC aims to reduce its reliance on the private special school sector. Currently, the annual cost of a place at a private special school is nearly double that of a state-funded special school place, making it crucial for KCC to transition towards more strategically planned and cost-effective solutions that meet the needs of all children with SEN.
On 16May 2024, the outcome of the Special School Review was presented to the Children, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee as part of KCC’s system wide transformation projects alongside the Locality Model for Special Educational Needs Inclusion (now known as Communities of School) and the SRP Review. The Cabinet Committee agreed to proceed with a public consultation on proposed changes to the designation of publicly funded special schools in Kent, and proposed changes to admissions guidance for certain special schools.
The public consultation ran from 19 June 2024 to 14 August 2024, and has now closed. The consultation focussed on proposed changes to the designations and admissions guidance for certain special schools in Kent, and a new proposed school-to-school support model in Kent. Consultees were also asked to provide feedback on KCC’s expectations statement for how special school places should be planned (which is consistent with the requirements of the Children and Families Act 2014 (“CFA 2014”)).
The consultation made clear that if KCC decided to move forward with the proposals, following consideration of the consultation feedback received, the next step would be to commence the statutory prescribed alteration procedure in relation to changes to SEN designation of KCC maintained schools. In relation to special Academies, KCC does not have any power to make changes to the type of SEN provision provided. The consultation therefore made clear that, if KCC decided to move forward with the proposals, the next step in relation to special Academies would be for KCC to the relevant Academy Trust(s) apply to the Secretary of State to approve the proposed changes under the ‘significant change’ mechanism which applies to academies.
The responses to the public consultation have been analysed, a report has been prepared for the Cabinet member which summarises those consultation responses. The Cabinet member will carefully consider that report before taking any decision.
The recommendations are that the Cabinet member agrees as follows:
1. Prescribed alterations (maintained schools)
KCC will proceed to publish a statutory notice of proposed changes to the type of special educational needs for which the school is organised to make provision, for the following special schools:
|
School Name |
Current Designation |
Proposed Designation |
|
Broomhill Bank School |
Communication and Interaction |
Neurodivergent and Learning Difficulties |
|
Grange Park School |
Communication and Interaction |
Neurodivergent and Learning Difficulties |
|
Laleham Gap School |
Communication and Interaction |
Neurodivergent and Learning Difficulties |
|
Stone Bay School |
Communication and Interaction with Severe Learning Difficulties |
Profound, Severe and Complex Needs |
|
Valence School |
Physical Disabilities and Complex Medical Needs |
Profound, Severe and Complex Needs |
A formal consultation and representation period will run for 4 weeks following publication of the statutory notice. Any representations and/or objections received in relation to the changes proposed will be considered by KCC before a final decision is taken on whether to proceed with the change in the type of special educational needs for which the school is organised to make provision. If the changes are adopted, then admissions guidance for the schools will also be amended to reflect the change.
2. Academy Trusts
KCC will proceed to request that the Bourne Alliance Multi Academy Trust and the Leigh Academies Trust respectively apply to Secretary of State to make changes to the type of SEN provision in the following special Academies:
|
School Name |
Current Designation |
Proposed Designation |
|
Aspire |
Communication and Interaction |
Neurodivergent and Learning Difficulties |
|
Snowfields Academy |
Communication and Interaction |
Neurodivergent and Learning Difficulties |
KCC will support any such application. If the Academy Trusts agree, the steps in the applicable significant change process for academies will be followed, and a decision will be taken by the Secretary of State for Education. If the change is approved, KCC will also request that the Academy Trusts amend their admission guidance for these Academies to reflect the change in type of SEN.
3. School-to-school support model
KCC will introduce a school-to-school support model for mainstream and special schools in Kent to collaborate through outreach and/or in-reach arrangements.
Background:
The review of Kent’s 24 state-funded special schools has been focused on the areas of accountability that relate to the Local Authority’s statutory responsibilities to secure efficient primary and secondary education to meet the needs of the population of KCC’s area and to ensure that sufficient school places for primary and secondary education are available for their area. KCC must also keep under review the educational provision made in its area for children and young people who have special educational needs or a disability and must consider the extent to which the provision is sufficient to meet the educational needs of the children and young people concerned. KCC must secure suitable education for children and young people for whom an EHCP is maintained, and is under a duty to make placements that are an efficient use of resources.
To fulfil its duty in planning sufficient provision for children and young people with SEN, KCC aims to ensure that all children and young people with SEN are educated in suitable and appropriate settings. KCC’s aim is that, as far as possible, local state-funded special school provision is to be available for children and young people with severe and complex special educational needs, that is within or near their local community. This approach seeks to improve outcomes and promote independence in adulthood. The special school review focussed on developing recommendations which aim:
It is intended that SEN system transformation across mainstream schools and SRPs, alongside a revised special schools model will help Kent County Council reduce its dependence on the private sector special schools by approximately 44%. This shift is essential to ensure the most effective and appropriate use of the High Needs Funding Budget. The revised model would ensure equitable access to special school places for children and young people with severe and complex SEND in or near to their local communities, which helps them to develop the skills and strategies needed for independence in adulthood.
Before a final decision can be made in relation to changes to the SEN designation of affected special schools in line with the revised model proposed (by KCC, or the Secretary of State in relation to academies) the specific processes set out in this document be followed, which it is recommended that KCC proceed with.
Options (other options considered but discarded)
The option of retaining the current special school model in Kent in the short, medium, or long term, has been discounted as it would risk perpetuating inequalities in access to state-funded special school placements, continue barriers for some children and young people with SEN in accessing appropriate support, and ongoing financial challenges due to reliance on costly-out of county and private school placements. The status quo would continue to prevent some children with the most severe and complex special educational needs, including those with dysregulated behaviours, in accessing special school places. It would also hinder progress toward Kent’s strategic goals of inclusion and improved outcomes for children and young people.
How the proposed decision supports the Framing Kent's Future - Our Council Strategy 2022-2026
KCC’s strategic vison for children, young people, and families, is set out in ‘Framing Kent’s Future’. Priority 1 of this vision “Levelling up” states ‘ Our commitment is to maintain KCC’s strategic role in supporting schools in Kent to deliver accessible, high quality education provision for all families.’ And the proposed decision is a first stage in considering proposed changes to the designations of particular special schools in Kent to address this commitment.
The SEN transformation programme generally is intended to ensure that all children with SEN have planned suitable education provision across the state-funded sector, in placements which meet their special educational needs, and are within or near the child’s local community. Work is underway to improve the inclusivity of mainstream schools, ensuring that mainstream schools are able to meet the needs of those with less severe and/or complex special educational needs. The intention of the special school review is to enable all children and young people with severe and complex special educational needs to consistently access state-funded special school places within or near their local community.
How the proposed decision supports Securing Kent’s Future 2022 -2026: Securing Kents Future - Budget Recovery Strategy.pdf
The proposed decision is a first stage in considering proposed changes to the designations of particular special schools in Kent.
Proceeding with the proposals at this stage supports “Objective 2: Delivering savings from identified opportunity areas to set a sustainable 2024/25 budget and MTFP” in particular “CYPE placement strategies: Work to assess the opportunities that exist around sufficiency strategy, ensuring the right mix of placements and working towards bringing placement costs down”.
The changes proposed will not lead to cost savings on their own. The wider system changes being implemented by KCC (including the CATIE, the Mainstream Core Standards, Communities of Schools, the SRP Review and the Sufficiency Plan) in response to the requirements of the Safety Valve and the Improvement Notice, will move the council towards greater financial sustainability moving forward. This is in line with KCC’s statutory duty, with the aim of reducing our current overspend of approximately £50m a year (15%) to breakeven by March 2028, and achieving ongoing financial security. KCC’s aim is to maximise the use of funding for the benefit of Kent’s children and young people rather than profiting private companies as was recently identified nationally.
Proceeding with the proposals at this stage also has the potential to positively impact the SEN home to school transport budget. By implementing a key principle of “meeting needs locally” , distances travelled will be reduced, enabling more cost-effective transport arrangements. The 24-27 published MTFP included an indicative annual saving of around £10m per year from achieving this aim.
Financial Implications
Funding for special schools is provided by the Department of Education through the High Needs Block of Dedicated Schools Grant. The Council is responsible for both the setting and payment of the Special Schools budgets. In 2023- 24, Kent spent approximately £152m on special school places. This is the largest expense in the High Needs block, accounting for just over 40% of total spend. This includes approximately £9m on exceptional pupil need (additional funding requests outside the standard funding rates).
The proposed decisions at this stage relating to changes in the designation of particular special schools do not have a significant revenue impact. If a decision is made to proceed with the changes following the applicable alteration/change process, any additional revenue costs of delivering those changes would be met from within the overall High Needs Budget.
With regard to potential capital costs, he High Needs Capital Programme totals £61m as agreed in the County Council Budget for 2024-25. This is funded from the Department of Education specific grant.
Legal Implications
KCC is subject to statutory sufficiency duties under the Education Act 1996 (the “1996 Act”), including to secure that efficient primary education and secondary education are available to meet the needs of the population in its area. This includes ensuring that sufficient school placements, in number, character and equipment are available in Kent to provide all pupils the opportunity of appropriate education.
KCC is also subject to duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 (the “2014 Act”), to keep under review the educational provision for children and young people with special educational needs or disability, and consider the extent to which its provision is sufficient to meet the educational needs of its population. If an education, health and care needs assessment identifies a need for SEN provision to be made, an EHCP must specify the SEN provision required. A parent or young person has the right to request the authority to secure that a particular school or other institution is named in the EHCP.
If a particular school or institution is requested by a parent then KCC is required, under the 2014 Act, to secure that the school or institution requested is named in the EHCP unless either: (i) the school or institution requested is unsuitable for the age, ability, aptitude or special educational needs of the child or young person concerned; or (ii) the attendance of the child or young person concerned at the requested school or institution would be incompatible with the provision of efficient education for others or the efficient use of resources. A parent of a child with an EHCP may appeal to the First-tier Tribunal against matters including: (i) the school or institution, or type of school or institution, named in an EHCP; and (ii) if no school or institution is named in an EHCP plan, that fact.
Changes to the type of SEN provision made at a local authority maintained school must be made via the statutory ‘Prescribed Alterations process’, set out in sections 18-24 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (the “2006 Act”), and the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2013 (the “Prescribed Alterations Regulations”). The proposed decision would trigger the first step under the Prescribed Alterations Regulations, to publish a statutory notice setting out the prescribed alteration proposed for each of the affected special schools that are maintained by KCC. KCC does not have the power to change the type of SEN provision made at a special Academy which is part of an Academy Trust. Any change to the designation of a special academy can only be made through a separate Academy Trust process for making significant changes to an academy, by an application to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State will be the ultimate decision-maker as to whether changes to the designation and type of SEN provision that is made at special Academies should proceed.
The proposed changes to the designation of the special schools above, if approved pursuant to the prescribed alterations procedure (or significant change procedure for special Academies), do not displace KCC’s statutory duties under either the 1996 Act or the 2014 Act. KCC is still required to identify a child/young person’s special educational needs, identify the SEN provision required, and secure that provision. Where a parent requests a particular school, KCC will be under a duty to give effect to that parental preference unless one of the statutory exceptions applies. Every child will continue to have their needs met in accordance with the statutory scheme if the recommendations are adopted. Further, children already enrolled in a special school would continue to attend that special school. The process for their continued attendance would remain the same as it currently stands, with their needs and the suitability of their school placement being reviewed and considered through the annual or phase transfer review of their EHCP.
Equalities implications
KCC is under a duty to have due regard to the three equality needs set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010, being: (a) the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act; (b) the need to promote equality of opportunity; and (c) the need to foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
An EQIA has been undertaken and was subject to the public consultation with the responses received used to further develop the document. Equalities implications have been identified in the EQIA in relation to age, disability and sex alongside mitigating actions required. The changes proposed should also be considered alongside other systemic changes affecting children with SEN, including the introduction of an accessibility strategy[1] and steps to make mainstream schools more inclusive.
The special school review EQIA will continue to be regularly reviewed throughout further decision-making stages.
Data Protection implications
· Not required
Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
Decision published: 03/01/2025
Effective from: 11/01/2025
Decision:
As Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, I agree to:
a. Commence the statutory prescribed alterations process by publishing a notice of proposed changes to the designation of specific special schools maintained by Kent Council, which are affected by the Special School Review;
b. Delegate authority to the Director of SEND to issue the Public Notice;
c. Request that specific Academy Trusts affected by the Special School Review apply to the Secretary of State under the ‘making significant changes to an academy’ process to change the type of SEN provision made in the special Academies affected by the Special School Review, and to confirm that KCC will support that application;
d. Introduce a school-to-school support model for mainstream and special schools in Kent to collaborate through outreach and/or in-reach arrangements; and
e. Delegate authority for the Director of SEND, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills to take relevant actions including but not limited to entering into relevant contracts or other legal agreements as required, to implement the decision.
Proposed decision:
That the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills:
(a) Approve the proposal to the School Funding Forum that funding for the following services should be provided from the schools’ budgets in line with the funding all schools receive under the National Funding Formula, as is currently the case for Academies, and that the Council no longer provides its own additional funding for these purposes:
· School improvement and intervention support for maintained schools and PRUs;
· Moderation of national curriculum key stage assessments;
· Support to governing bodies when recruiting their headteacher; and
· Redundancy and associated pension costs relating to school staff.
(b) Delegate authority, subject to the agreement by the School Funding Forum to the proposals and the final outcome reflecting the Policy decision made above by the Cabinet Member, to the Corporate Director for Children, Young People and Education to take relevant actions including but not limited to entering into relevant contracts or other legal agreements as required, to implement the required changes to give effect to the decision
Reason for the decision
The national funding arrangements for schools and local authorities has been shifting over the years. With the introduction of the School Funding Reforms in 2013-14 Local Authorities were directed to delegate a number of former centrally retained Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budgets to schools for the first time. At the time, a total of £8.7m of DSG funding was delegated to schools from 1 April 2013 and at the same time, local Schools Funding Forums were given the powers to de-delegate funding. This is where some of this funding is returned to the LA for certain categories of spend where better efficiency could be achieved through central delivery by the LA.
The Education Services Grant (ESG) allocated to local authorities by the Government for the provision of statutory services in relation to schools was withdrawn in 2016/17. The DfE introduced a provision within the School Funding Regulations for local authorities to agree a contribution from LA maintained schools budget shares towards the cost of statutory services. This principle reflects the charge that most Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) place on their schools for central services.
Between 2017 and 2023 the Local Authority School Improvement Monitoring and Brokering Grant was allocated to local authorities to support them in fulfilling their statutory school improvement functions. When this was withdrawn in 2022/23, local Schools Funding Forums were given the powers to de-delegate and return some of this funding to the LA. The DfE’s withdrawal of grant reflects the fact that Academy Trusts are expected to fulfil the same functions for their schools, and that the funding to do so comes from the budgets of the schools in their trusts.
With the introduction of the National Funding Formula and the withdrawal of DfE funding to Local Authorities to support schools, we have seen funding shifting from Local Authorities to schools to pay for services.
The Council currently funds a range of services which are provided to maintained schools. Following consultation with maintained mainstream and special schools, and pupil referral units (PRUs), a decision is needed as to whether the Council or schools’ budgets will pay for certain services in 2025-26.
Background
The Council currently funds:
· School improvement and intervention support for maintained schools and PRUs;
· Moderation of national curriculum key stage assessments;
· Support to governing bodies when recruiting their headteacher; and
· Redundancy and associated pension costs relating to school staff.
The grant funding the Council previously received to provide these services has, to all extents, ended, and the funding transferred to schools budgets. Schools and PRUs are being consulted on whether the costs of providing these services should in future be met via their budgets, either directly, or through either de-delegation or top-slicing as allowed for by Regulations.
Options (other options considered but not proposed)
A review of the services provided to schools by the Council considered, for each area of service delivery, whether the service should “continue, stop, reduce or change”. .
For change in 2025-26, four areas of service delivery were identified, and have been subject to consultation. In respect of school improvement and intervention support, moderation of national curriculum key stage assessments, and redundancy costs the Council has to discharge its statutory duties, thus cannot stop providing the services, but finance regulations provide for the costs of these to be funded through schools budgets (i.e. change). The option to reduce support continues to exist, but was not the preferred option. Continuing without change was not seen as a viable option, because funding has moved from the Council to schools. In respect of headteacher recruitment support, the proposal is to cease providing this support for free. Schools are responsible for recruiting staff. Options to de-delegate funds or simply buy support when required were included in the consultation.
How the proposed decision supports the Framing Kent's Future - Our Council Strategy 2022-2026
Priority 1 of Framing Kent’s Future sets out the Council’s commitment to maintain KCC’s strategic role in supporting schools in Kent to deliver accessible, high quality education provision for all families. It states the Council will maintain improvement support services for all Kent schools, including maintained schools and academies, to maintain Kent’s high-quality education system.
The proposals seek to secure the funding necessary to enable the Council to deliver this commitment.
How the proposed decision supports Securing Kent’s Future 2022 -2026: Securing Kents Future - Budget Recovery Strategy.pdf
The Council has continued to provide the above services, partly funded by de-delegated funding from schools (£1.5m), but with a further £1.5m from its own resources. The proposals would result in schools meeting the full costs.
Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Education and Skills
Decision published: 02/01/2025
Effective from: 10/01/2025
Decision:
As Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, I agree to:
(a) Approve the proposal to the School Funding Forum that funding for the following services should be provided from the schools’ budgets in line with the funding all schools receive under the National Funding Formula, as is currently the case for Academies, and that the Council no longer provides its own additional funding for these purposes:
• School improvement and intervention support for maintained schools and PRUs;
• Moderation of national curriculum key stage assessments;
• Support to governing bodies when recruiting their headteacher; and
• Redundancy and associated pension costs relating to school staff.
(b) Delegate authority, subject to the agreement by the School Funding Forum to the proposals and the final outcome reflecting the Policy decision made above by the Cabinet Member, to the Corporate Director for Children, Young People and Education to take relevant actions including but not limited to entering into relevant contracts or other legal agreements as required, to implement the required changes to give effect to the decision.
Lead officer: David Adams