Issue - decisions

High Needs Funding for Oldham College

04/12/2019 - High Needs Funding for Oldham College

RESOLVED - That:
Decision Part 1:
Option 1: Agree to placement numbers 143 (this accounts for students placed by Oldham and other authorities). This would be in place for the 2020/2021 academic year and reflects the 10% differential in actual numbers taken by the college.
Option 2: Do nothing, keep the allocation at 100. There is a risk that the college will refuse to accept students above this number on the basis that attendance is a significant pressure on college resources and exceeds the 10% guideline. This option could result in even more expensive cost as the students with EHC plans not placed at the college request a specialist (and expensive) provision elsewhere.
Decision Part 2:
Option 1: Transfer the equivalent £228k to the college (which is ultimately ESFA funding) to support the additional E2 costs incurred as a result of the 40% increase in out of borough students, as per the ESFA funding model. If, in the unlikely event of the out of borough students’ numbers changing through the course of the session, the LA could reduce the differential from the funding allocated in the following session to cover any reduction in passported funding, so there is no risk to the council resources.
Option 2: Maintain the funding on a lagged basis. This weakens the financial position of the college during a period of increased demand from high need students and does not reflect a spirit of partnership which both parties have fostered.