To agree that a two year underspend in the dedicated school grant (early years pot) of £890k funding will be used to fund Solihull training, speech and language and training for early years professionals and parents.

 That:

(a) the £890,000 underspend in dedicated schools grant funding for nursery education for two year olds be applied, as recommended by Schools Forum, to support the following:

i. an early years speech and language service for children aged 2 to 5 be commissioned for a period of up to three years at a total cost of £590,000 with effect from April 1st 2018

ii. a one-off fund of £200,000 be established to support early years training and conferences for parents and practitioners;

iii. the Solihull approach be delivered across multi-disciplinary teams and online Solihull training for parents be offered at a cost of £70k birth resolution trauma training for professionals be delivered at a cost of£30k; and

(b) the director for children’s wellbeing be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above recommendations, including procurement and award of contract, within the approved budget allocations.