resulting in the current DSG information under reporting the Westminster 3 and 4 year old funding by around £388k. Schools Block The net variance in the schools block is £110k, made up of a number of small items. High Needs Block There is a projected under spend on the high needs block of £767k, this is primarily due to three items, a £985k under spend on top-up: maintained and an overspend of £411k in alternative provision commissioning and an £154k under spend on belongings placements. There has been a reduction in year on year expenditure on top-up finding in the maintained sector of almost £800k. This has been caused by the reduction in historic payments due to work done by the SEN team last year as well as the continued transfer of schools to the academy sector. Demand is also down in the independent school sector with a year on year cost reduction of around £400k. There is also an ongoing pressure (£411k) on alternative provision commissioning due to increase demand for specialist support. The SEN Team are currently examining methods by which we might commission this support more cost effectively. The reduction in Belongings Placements costs (£154k) is due to the transfer of several pupils from high cost looked after children placements back into the school sector. Detailed budgets and current projections of the Out-Turn position can be found in Appendix A. RECOMMENDATIONS Schools Forum are asked to note the DSG allocation and monitoring position. Schools Forum are asked to note that the projected carry forward will be £3,957k. Andrew Tagg Head of Resources
resulting in the current DSG information under reporting the Westminster 3 and 4 year old funding by around £388k. Schools Block The net variance in the schools block is £110k, made up of a number of small items. High Needs Block There is a projected under spend on the high needs block of £767k, this is primarily due to three items, a £985k under spend on top-up: maintained and an overspend of £411k in alternative provision commissioning and an £154k under spend on belongings placements. There has been a reduction in year on year expenditure on top-up finding in the maintained sector of almost £800k. This has been caused by the reduction in historic payments due to work done by the SEN team last year as well as the continued transfer of schools to the academy sector. Demand is also down in the independent school sector with a year on year cost reduction of around £400k. There is also an ongoing pressure (£411k) on alternative provision commissioning due to increase demand for specialist support. The SEN Team are currently examining methods by which we might commission this support more cost effectively. The reduction in Belongings Placements costs (£154k) is due to the transfer of several pupils from high cost looked after children placements back into the school sector. Detailed budgets and current projections of the Out-Turn position can be found in Appendix A. RECOMMENDATIONS Schools Forum are asked to note the DSG allocation and monitoring position. Schools Forum are asked to note that the projected carry forward will be £3,957k. Andrew Tagg Head of Resources