Minutes:
Michael Jarrett reported that through the DSG settlement Early Years had received a positive increase of £44m across the country.
Early modelling had been completed which the Early Years Task Group was to consider at their meeting scheduled for Thursday 21 January. Four options were to be proposed and when the work was completed the detail would be shared with the sector through Survey Monkey. It represented an increase of:
£0.08p hour for 2-year old provision
£0.06p hour for 3 and 4-year old provision
As previously discussed, MNS remained a risk and was an ongoing issue. Long-term certainty had been requested but no assurances had been forthcoming. It was suggested that whilst comprehensive annual spending reviews continued, this was unlikely to change.
Any proposals from the Task Group and responses from Survey Monkey would be reviewed and, in order to meet the timeframe, an update would be circulated to Schools Forum members via email. It was hoped proposals could be tabled at the next meeting of Schools Forum.
It was added there had been favourable responses from the sector about these proposals and this was felt to be encouraging.