Special Edition - Spring term | 16 January 2020
 Views of schools are being sought on two key proposals with responses required by the end of this week as follows:
Learner Services Engagement Survey (closes noon Friday 17 January)
The survey is the opportunity to influence the next 10+ years of education for young people in Devon. It is a chance to reshape and direct how the Local Authority, the commission and schools will work going forward.
School Funding Consultation: Request to transfer 0.5% Schools Block to High Needs Block (closes 11.45pm Sunday 19 January)
The decision on the 0.5% transfer from Schools Block to High Needs Block for 2020/21 will be made by way of vote at Devon Education Forum on Wednesday 22 January 2020. Headteacher and governor representatives at the meeting will require a clear steer from schools in order to inform this vote. Please therefore take the time to duly consider the consultation and complete the response form by the 19 January deadline.
Details of the two proposals are below:
Learner Services Engagement Survey School Leadership
Responses required by noon on Friday 17 January 2020
Message from Dawn Stabb, Head of Education & Learning, Devon County Council
In 2012 Devon County Council, after long consultation with staff and engagement with stakeholders including schools, took the decision to commission out its learner support services (including school improvement and Governor Support). The delivery model chosen at the time was for a joint venture with a private sector partner. Babcock was successful in this and a new company, Babcock LDP, in which Devon County council retained 20% ownership, was created. All DCC staff moved over to the new company under TUPE. The service level contract which was put into place with Babcock LDP was for a maximum of ten years and will expire on 31 March 2022.
The majority of the funding for the current contract comes from the council budget and is used to deliver statutory services, however a significant amount of funding also comes from the Dedicated Schools Grant either via the High Needs block, Early Years block or de-delegated funding. The total value of the contract for 2019/20 is £8.8 million pounds as shown below.
In order to inform an options appraisal which will consider what and how the services should be delivered from April 2022 onwards, the Local Authority is engaging with schools both as users and commissioners of the service. A Headteacher (Paul Walker – DAPH & DASH) and a Governor (Faith Butler - DAG) are now part of the project team and we will also be providing updates on progress and discussing key elements at every Schools’ Funding Group meeting and, as appropriate, in the Headteacher and Governor updates.
In order to hear the wider voice of schools we have prepared a survey which allows you and your leadership team to comment on the services you would like to see in any new service delivery model (existing staff would be eligible to transfer to the new provider of the services) and provide any other feedback.
We would very much welcome responses from as many schools as possible. You will be able to preview the survey prior to completion. We can see that there are a number of partially completed surveys currently saved on the system, so please don’t forget to complete these and submit.
An engagement survey has also been prepared for Governors to complete, and a copy of this can be found H E R E for your information.
The survey refers to participation in a Schools Outcomes-based Engagement Workshop and I can confirm that this will take place on the afternoon of Thursday 6 February. Please save this date if you are interested in attending and you will receive further details, including the venue, following closure of the survey.
Schools Funding Consultation - Request to transfer 0.5% Schools Block to High Needs Block
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE READ THE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION AND HAVE CONSIDERED THE IMPACT ON YOUR SCHOOL PRIOR TO SUBMITTING A RESPONSE.
Transferring funding from Schools to High Needs
Following a discussion at Devon Education Forum (20th November 2019) relating to the views given by schools as part of the autumn consultation process, we have been asked to share the following proposal on transferring funding from Schools to High Needs with schools and seek your support.
Devon requests school approval to transfer 0.5% of the Schools Block to High Needs to be used to pump prime additional outreach support for Primary and Secondary schools so that they can accommodate the needs of individuals who have specific provisions identified within their mainstream Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).
The proposal is to facilitate this through central support teams or, where possible, funding to the school to buy in the support needed. This transfer would not be used to offset the current deficit position.
Please refer to the supporting documentation on the website prior to completing your response.
Link to Consultation page on the Schools Webpages: https://www.devon.gov.uk/supportforschools/finance/consultations
- Evidence to support the proposal to transfer funding to the High Needs Block: Open file HERE
- School Budget Comparator: Open file HERE
Response required by: 11:45pm Sunday 19 January 2020
Devon Association of Primary Headteachers (DAPH) &
Devon Association of Secondary Headteachers (DASH)
Contact us: 01392 380518 | daph@devon.gov.uk | daph.org.uk
DAPH Office
Venture House, One Capital Court
Bittern Road, Sowton Industrial Estate
Exeter EX2 7FW
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