Agenda Item 10
Schools Forum
11th March, 2020
Update on 2-year-old expenditure
1.0 Purpose of report 1.1 To update School Forum on the spend and impact of the 2 year old capital and trajectory
fund that enables the LA to carry out its duty to provide early learning places for eligible two
year olds. The LA also has a duty to ensure the quality of the provision and to promote the
take up of places. The report also shares plans for future spend including converting
remaining trajectory fund to capital where necessary. This report is based end of autumn
term 2019 data.
2.0
Background 2.1 Take up of two-year-old places remains a priority in order to close the attainment gap
between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged children in Walsall. Research from the
Education Endowment Foundation evidences that this is the single best strategy for
improving outcomes by the age of five. Walsall’s strategy for two year old take up is to
ensure that there are sufficient places in each ward within ‘pram pushing’ distance. Walsall
also aims to have a mix of provider types in each ward, as some parents would not want
their child to go to day care because they do want other adults caring for their young child
but might be happy to send their child to school. Other parents may think their child is too
young for school but may be happy for them to go to day-care or with a childminder.
2.2 Attainment of pupils who take up their two-year-old place is not measured by the LA (or
nationally) until the child completes their Early Years Foundation Stage. The children who
have been eligible for two-year-old places are not recorded as a separate data set but many
of them would be included in the Free School Meal group. You will see from the table below
that, in 2019, there is still a gap of 14% between FSM and Non FSM children in Walsall by
the age of five. Although this shows that there is a way to go in closing the attainment gap
in Walsall, it must be noted that the national gap is 3% higher at 17%. Walsall’s outcomes
for eligible FSM children is exactly in line with National Average of 57% GLD, evidencing
how well schools and settings in Walsall support the attainment of this group of children. 2-
year-old Early Learning is contributing to this success as reported by most headteachers
delivering the 2-year-old provision. It must also be noted that there is feedback from
headteachers stating that the 30-hour children are making greater progress, which in turn
widens the attainment gap further. See Appendix 1 for the most disadvantaged wards in
Walsall where more 2-year-old places are needed.
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Agenda Item 10
Table 1: Percentage of 5 years olds reaching age related expectations (Good Level of
Development)
Group
Walsall
National
Gap 2017
Walsall
National
Gap
Walsall
National
Gap 2019
2017
2018
2018
2019
2017
2018
2019
All
66%
71%
5%
68%
72%
4%
68%
72%
4%
Eligible FSM
57
57
No gap
56
56
No gap
57
57
No gap
Non FSM
71
74
3
69
73
4
71
74
3
Walsall gap
14
17
between FSM
13
17
14
17
and Non FSM
3.0
Current Position – Supply, Demand and Take up
3.1 Currently 7 nursery schools and 18 maintained primary schools offer places to two year olds
(see Tables 2a, b and c below) In addition there are 45 private nurseries/playgroups and 84
childminders.
Tables 2 a, b and c – Schools offering two year old places – Autumn Term 2019
Table 2b - Nursery Schools taking 2 year olds
Table 2a -Schools taking 2 year
Places at any
Total no.
olds
one time
of places
Places at any one
Total no. of
Abbey Primary School
4
8
time
places overall
Beacon Primary School
24
48
Alumwell
Nursery School
32
64
Brownhills West Primary School
8
16
Fullbrook
Castlefort JMI School
24
24
Nursery School
52
104
Chuckery Primary
8
16
Millfields
County Bridge Primary School
24
24
Nursery School
24
48
Delves primary
12
24
Ogley Hay
Nursery School
24
48
Goldsmith Primary Academy
16
32
Rowley View
King Charles
24
48
Nursery School
32
64
Kings Hill Primary School
24
24
Sandbank
Leighswood
24
48
Nursery School
34
68
Leamore Primary
12
24
Valley Nursery
School
50
100
Lodge Farm
12
24
Lower Farm Primary School
24
48
2c - Schools to
Places at any one
Total no. of
Moorcroft Wood Primary
24
24
take 2 year olds
time
places overall
Pool Hayes Primary School
12
24
Croft Academy
12
24
Reedswood
24
48
Woodlands
24
48
Ryders Hayes
24
48
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Agenda Item 10
Table 3 shows the numbers of eligible children in each ward and the number of places
Total
Total
Number
Total
Number of
Ward (and deprivation measure
of Part
Number of
Total 2
Part Time
Number of
Time 2
Part Time 2
year olds
% of spare places
with 1 being the most deprived
2 year old
spare places
year old
year old
requiring a
available
ward, 20 the least deprived)
Places
available
Places
Places
place
available
available
available
(Childcare)
(Schools)
Aldridge Central & South (17)
116
48
164
74
90
55%
Aldridge North & Walsall Wood (15)
118
24
142
54
88
62%
Bentley & Darlaston North (6)
208
72
280
192
88
31%
Birchills Leamore (2)
210
0
210
249
-39
-19%
Blakenall (1)
64
156
220
275
-55
-25%
Bloxwich East (4)
0
96
96
145
-49
-51%
Bloxwich West (10)
40
76
116
128
-12
-10%
Brownhills (11)
16
64
80
92
-12
-15%
Darlaston South (5)
54
112
166
229
-63
-38%
Paddock (18)
78
16
94
66
28
30%
Palfrey (9)
82
128
210
238
-28
-13%
Pelsall (16)
30
48
78
51
27
35%
Pheasey Park Farm (19)
142
0
142
38
104
73%
Pleck (3)
28
112
140
245
-105
-75%
Rushall-Shelfield (14)
64
0
64
71
-7
-11%
Short Heath (12)
4
48
52
61
-9
-17%
St Matthew's (8)
158
0
158
204
-46
-29%
Streetly (20)
88
0
88
11
77
88%
Willenhall North (13)
44
48
92
98
-6
-7%
Willenhall South (7)
120
0
120
172
-52
-43%
Out of Borough
-
-
1664
1048
2712
2693
19
1%
3.4 Table 3 shows the number of places available in each ward compared to the number of
children from the ward that the DWP have said require a place in Autumn 2019. It calculates
spare places available but does not consider how many children take up a place or which
ward they take up their place in. It also does not show the numbers of children that come into
wards from other LA’s. Neither does it show children from Walsall wards that take up a place
in another LA. The wards highlighted in orange are those that would have lack of sufficiency
if all of the children took up a place in their own ward.
3.5 Over the last 12 months take up of places has increased dramatically from 70% in January
2019 to 83% in January 2020. Although this a great success for Walsall, it now highlights an
insufficiency of places for the remaining 17% of current eligible children. This increase is a
result of the appointment of an officer dedicated to increasing take up.
3.6 The officer has direct contact with parents and works in partnership with all providers and
services for 0-2 year old children.
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Agenda Item 10
3.7 Table 4 also demonstrates that there are 1353 children on the current forward planning DWP
list that are eligible for a place this term or next term. This also includes the 17% that have
not taken their place this term. Additionally the DWP have let Walsall know that there may be
more children because the list has not included those children whose families claim universal
credit. As some of these children become eligible, other children will cease their two-year-old
place and become a funded 3 year old.
Table 4 - Take up data and future demand
Number of
children not
Spare places
accessing a
Children on
available
Children in a
place from
Ward
August 2019
% Take Up
(from Current
Setting
current
DWP List
sufficiency
forward
data)
planning
DWP List
Aldridge Central & South
38
36
95%
38
90
Aldridge North & Walsall Wood
35
34
97%
20
88
Bentley & Darlaston North
106
90
85%
102
88
Birchills Leamore
152
130
86%
119
-39
Blakenall
161
132
82%
143
-55
Bloxwich East
110
81
74%
64
-49
Bloxwich West
87
65
75%
63
-12
Brownhills
50
58
116%
34
-12
Darlaston South
142
118
83%
111
-63
Paddock
41
36
88%
30
28
Palfrey
150
112
75%
126
-28
Pelsall
36
28
78%
23
27
Pheasey Park Farm
26
19
73%
19
104
Pleck
148
119
80%
126
-105
Rushall-Shelfield
43
33
77%
38
-7
Short Heath
44
21
48%
40
-9
St Matthew's
126
96
76%
108
-46
Streetly
7
6
86%
5
77
Willenhall North
64
42
66%
56
-6
Willenhall South
96
84
88%
88
-52
Out of Borough
-
43
-
-
-
Total
1662
1383
83%
1353
3.8
Sufficiency has increased since the last report in:
Bloxwich West - Sandbank Nursery increased by 16 using trajectory fund.
Short Heat - Lodge Farm now deliver 24 places. Plans to develop 48 places at
Woodlands Primary are agreed.
St Mathews - Toddler Town created places.
Palfrey – YMCA created places. Delves Infant School created and deliver 24 places.
Birchills Leamore - Croft Academy will deliver 24 places but waiting for approval from
the Secretary of State.
Blakenall - Leamore School are now delivering 24 places.
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Agenda Item 10
4.0
Planned actions
4.1 There are 8 wards that need additional 2-year-old places in order to provide 100%
sufficiency. These are highlighted in Table 4.
4.2 In order to improve sufficiency a full Childcare Sufficiency Assessment will be
commissioned to share with local and large national day-care providers in order to
attract more private provision into Walsall.
4.3 In addition, further discussions with schools/ settings in 8 wards may identify possible
opportunities to increase/ create places, see Table 5 below.
Table 5 – Possible solutions to increase sufficiency in the 8 lowest wards, including 5 most deprived
Ward
Deprivation Possible solutions (utilising remaining funds)
1 most/
20 least
Birchills Leamore 2
The childcare delivered at Birchills Childrens centre is currently under
consultation. They offer 48 places for two year olds. Hatherton Pre-
School and Birchills School possible expansion.
Blakenall
1
Christchurch are interested in delivering places but require capital
fund. Possibility of new places at Sunshine or North Walsall.
Bloxwich East
4
Possibility of new places at Rivers and St Peters.
Darlaston South
5
Possibility of new places at Woodsbank
Palfrey
9
YMCA expanding. Maple Tree would expand with capital. Possibility of
Palfrey Infants utilising Palfrey CA building. Possibility of new places at
Whitehall Infants.
Pleck
3
Possibility of expanding places at Reedswood.
St Matthew's
8
Possible new places at Caldmore.
Willenhall South
7
Possible new places at Fibbersley or Barcroft.
5.0 Financial Processes
5.1 The Capital and Asset Programme Board now makes all decisions on capital spend. It also
makes decisions on school expansions for older age children and having an Early Years
Team Representative in the group ensures that consideration is given to expansion of
nursery and two-year-old places, where necessary, whilst at the feasibility stage.
6.0 Financial update
6.1 All capital funds have now been allocated. See Table 6. There is still funding available in
the Trajectory budget, which we are requesting, can be used for either trajectory or capital.
See Table 7.
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Agenda Item 10
Table 6 – Capital Fund
Capital to Create 2 year Old Places - DSG reserve
Allocation of £2,383,116
£
Use of fund
Expenditure - 2015/16
1,102,359
Phase 1 and 2 capital projects creating 404 plus 726 places
Expenditure - 2016/17
61,881
Phase 1 and 2 capital projects creating 404 plus 726 places
Phase 3 (Children’s Centre configuration) creating at least 64 places at
Expenditure - 2017/18
665,106
Edgar Stammers, Bloxwich and Rosehill
Expenditure – 2018/19
116,686
Completion of works at Reedswood academy, Pool Hayes,
Expenditure – 2019/20 to date
55,210
Works at Delves Infants
Total Spend to date
2,001,242
Committed to create places at Woodlands, YMCA and Lodge Farm
381,874
Balance remaining
Table 7 – Trajectory Fund
2 Year Old Trajectory - DSG reserve
Allocation of £1.2m
£
Main use of fund
Expenditure - 2015/16
462,526
Resource provision, market the offer to families, transitional fund
Expenditure - 2016/17
40,508
Transitional Fund, market offer to families, Quality Audits
Improving provision through Achievement for All, market offer to
Expenditure - 2017/18
50,600
families
Resourcing Reedswood 2 year old provision, temporary 2-Year-Old
Expenditure - 2018/19
131,000
Sufficiency Post, marketing material, training 2-year-old practitioners.
Expenditure - 2019/20 to date
3,558
Sandbank Nursery increase in places
Total Spend to date
688,192
Committed: Integrated Facilities management fees (School projects)
£15, 149, YMCA £8,400, Leamore £10,000, Delves £5,600, Lodge Farm
£4,182, Portal - £5,000, Outdoor Learning £13,000 and Early Language
Books £3,250
Total committed £64,581
Balance remaining
511,808
Remaining - £447, 227 (for capital/ trajectory projects)
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Agenda Item 10
6.2 The remaining trajectory fund will be used to:
purchase the parent online portal. It will give parents a quick way of accessing their
code on line. This will cut down the need for them to contact Families Information
Services. (£4,000 set up and for the first year, £1,000 for year two). This will then be
evaluated to determine if the LA will pick up the ongoing costs for this. (Total £5,000)
improve the quality of provision by funding 2 year old outdoor learning project. Schools
and settings can match fund up to £200 each. 20 schools and 45 settings. Total
maximum spend £13,000.
improve early language skills, schools and settings can match fund up to £50 to
purchase books from Peters Books. Total maximum - £3,250
pay Integrated Facilities Management costs for school projects of £15,149.
pay for completion of agreed place expansion projects £28,182.
7.0 Recommendations
7.1 Schools Forum will continue to make the remaining trajectory fund available in order to
further improve sufficiency, quality and take up.
7.2 The remaining trajectory fund will be used for capital or revenue projects
Nicola Hart
Quality Assurance Manager – Early Years
25.1.2020
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Agenda Item 10
Appendix 1
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Agenda Item 10
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