New guidance from DfE on school spaces
Released On 21st Feb 2024
The Department for Education (DfE) has released new "sufficiency framework" for trusts, local authorities and schools with the aim of ensuring there are enough school spaces.
The guidance focuses on changes that could be made in academies, and suggests that trusts should work "contructively" with local authorities on school place planning.
Here are the highlights of the expectations for trusts that the DfE has set out:
Increased collaboration with local authorities
Trusts are expected to “work collaboratively and constructively” with local authorities, other trusts, dioceses and the DfE on place planning, and should determine up-to-date capacity assessments.
Additionally, they are encouraged to inform partners of anything that may affect their capacity as well as any planned significant changes. These changes are then subject to a consultation.
Transparency with data from local authorities
Medium-term forecasts or place demand are expected to be set up by local authorities.
This includes any shortfalls or surplus places.
They must also share their plans with the Regions Group to expand or contract provision to make sure these align with the process for commissioning in the wider area.
The framework seeks to systemise the place planning process whilst recognising there cannot be a strict ‘one size fits all’ approach.
Regions Group to ensure local authories have enough freedom
The Regions Group will work with trusts and local authorities to ensure “trusts are supported to deliver places and that local authorities’ ability to meet their sufficiency duty is not unreasonably fettered."
The sufficiency duty is the local authority’s statutory duty to ensure there are enough school places available in their area for every child.
The Regions Group will discuss place planning with local authorities regularly, and share information on trusts of concern, trust quality and strategic plans for trust growth in the region.
They will also assess trusts’ applications to make significant changes.
New eight-step process to be introduced
The place planning process will look a little different.
First, local authorities must agree their pupils forecasts with with DfE.
Then schools that can expand to meet place needs are identified and any options for spare capacity may also be noted.
Next, local authorities discuss proposals with trusts and schools to request any changes.
The proposals are shared with the Regions Group by local authorities.
The Regions Group will consider said proposals.
Place planning discussions happen between local authorities and the Regions Group.
Options are finalised by local authorities. Finally, the finished proposals are sent to trusts and other key stakeholders, and published publicly for transparency.
