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NNoSS survey to special and hospital schools, and alternative provision on the Schools Supplementary Grant (SSG)
SUMMARY
Members had highlighted that while mainstream schools were receiving the SSG directly to their schools the special and AP sectors were required to ‘negotiate’ with their local authorities over the amount they will receive.
It was noted that the grant would cover the NI costs it was also assumed it would cover the uplift in starting salaries to £30k and adjusted salaries above. Members expressed concern that they would not receive adequate funding and NNoSS wrote a joint letter to the Secretary of State, Nadhim Zahawi, along with the Confederation of School Trusts and The National Association of Hospital Education to ask for there to be clear guidance on how the SSG should be calculated for the sector and assurances that it would be passed on. You can read the letter HERE.
NNoSS invited schools from the sector to feed their views in via a survey and the results of this follow.
NNoSS is open to all School Business Professionals working in England’s special, hospital and alternative provisions and thanks to support from the DfE most memberships are free.
KEY POINTS
66% of respondents have yet to have communication from their LA over the SSG funding for their settings and 91% of respondents still do not know the methodology their LA will use to allocate the funds.
It was noted that many LAs have still to make decisions over allocation with some waiting for further guidance from ESFA and there are examples of LAs stating that some settings would not receive any funds.
Some respondents felt that allocations should be made on staffing levels rather than pupil numbers to take into consideration the large staffing structures of special, hospital and alternative provision, while others felt allocation per place funding would be more appropriate and others agreeing that it being added to top up funding was the best option. However, it was also noted that if the latter was used then the increase would have to be standardised across all LAs to allow for consistency in schools who get funding from numerous LAs.
Respondents questioned the money coming through the high needs block and emphasised the point that the sector’s schools should be treated equally to mainstream with funding coming directly from Government.
It is also a concern that allocations will, at best, be made based on only the Health & Social Care Levy, and the funding of the uplift of the basic teacher salary to £30,000, plus the knock-on effect on other salaries will not be considered. The SSG given to mainstream gave an indication the grant was to also cover this.
Again, schools in the sector are frustrated that they are seen as an afterthought and must fight for money rather than being distributed. They are also mindful of the deficits the LAs have and are fearful this money will be swallowed up rather than passed on to the schools.
In Depth Analysis
The survey responses covered a total of 188 schools over 78 LA areas and taking pupils from 112 LAs.
School breakdown
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Have you had communication with your LA (s) regarding the H&SC Levy?
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Do you know what methodology they will use?
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Those who have had communication with their LAs stated that:
At the time of writing many respondents have contacted their LA but are still waiting for a reply. For those who have received a reply there appears to be no consistency in how the funding may be allocated. Some LAs indicated it will be based on commissioned places with £103 per place being mentioned by a couple of people. Others are increasing top up funding and for some they are linking it to budget carry forward or not planning to award at all.
When asked how they feel about the decision, respondents commented:
The delay in confirming the funding when they are trying to set budgets is not helpful and also concerns that the money may be swallowed up in the higher needs block and be used to address LA deficits. Also, the fact that this money is there to support staffing costs that schools have no control over and yet the schools in this sector are not guaranteed to receive it.
When asked how they through it should be allocated there were varied responses, but most emphasised the importance of ensuring equity across mainstream and special schools. It is imperative that the large number of staff in the special sector is considered. If a pupil formula is used this must have appropriate weighting applied, and a per staff member formula might be a fairer way of funding. It was also strongly felt that agreements must be consistent across the country, as many schools take children from multiple LAs and counties.
Some respondents were also concerned that only the Health and Social Care Levy would be covered, at best, when in mainstream the indication is that the grant will also cover the uplift in starting salaries to £30,000 and the knock-on effect on other salaries. Therefore, a request is made for clear guidance be given to LAs of the size of increases they expect to be passed on to schools.
It was felt that some LAs may be forced to consider their high needs position in relation to their deficits when making allocation decisions. Again, the point of money being allocated to high need blocks when it is specifically to fund pressures in provisions was brought up with some schools expressing concern around the lengthy delays in receiving money from the LA.
Concern was also expressed by some who feel that special and AP are being discriminated against with rising cohorts, growing pressures, and having to fight for funding to provide the care, education and support their students need. Some felt that special schools are currently being disadvantaged and there needs to be a fairer way of distributing additional funding which might include making the distribution of funds mandatory, if coming through the LA.
Do you expect the decision to be made at Schools Forum?
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NNoSS is open to all School Business Professionals working in England’s special, hospital and alternative provisions and thanks to support from the DfE most memberships are free.
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