School Business Services Launch Blog!

As part of the service provided by School Business Services to academies and schools we are introducing a regular blog on the latest news items that we feel School Business Managers should be aware of, as well as reminders about the deadlines for returns and reports. Our aim is to publish every other Wednesday. So let’s spring forward with the first blog! From the Business Cycle Wall Planner - April At the start of 2014 the EFA published a planner for Academies and others. From the Planner, in April it is expected that: Academies • Publish and submit to their local authority their determined admissions arrangements for 2014. EFA • Announces outcome of round 1 of ACMF 2014 to 2015 applications • Issues reports against DfE sixth form national minimum standards • Publishes third EFA customer survey • Pays the fourth and final pupil premium payments for 2013 to 2014 financial year. For more details go to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/efa-business-cycle Schools Funding The government announced on 13 March that England’s schools are to receive an extra £350m in 2015-16. However, plans to introduce a national funding formula before the general election have been abandoned, which means that schools in different local authority areas will continue to receive different amounts per pupil. The Government is keen to see funding allocated to local areas on the basis of the actual need of their pupils and schools, rather than simply on the basis of historic levels of spending. In his speech Mr Laws highlighted the fact that a school in Birmingham which had 3% of its pupils eligible for free school meals received more money per pupil than a school in nearby Shropshire where nearly 33% qualify for free school meals. For more details go to https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/david-laws-oral-statement-on-minimum-funding-levels Academy Funding 2014/2015 Academies will have received their Funding Statement for 2014/2015 in the last month. For general guidance on the allocation see https://www.gov.uk/academies-funding-allocations Academies will need to submit their budget forecast return for 2014/2015 to the EFA by 31 July 2014. It is likely that School Business Managers will need to prepare a number of budgets for the Senior Leadership Team and Governors over the next few months. To help you why not use our budget planning and monitoring tool, http://www.sbsonline.org.uk/ - free demos of the system are available. Local Government Pension Schemes The new Local Government Pension Scheme becomes effective from 1 April 2014. The new ‘Career Average Scheme’, will see employee’s pensions based upon their salary during each year of their employment rather than their final salary. This is the start of a process to ensure public service pensions are both sustainable and affordable. For more information members should go to http://www.lgps2014.org/ With life expectancy increasing in the UK expect further changes with employer and employee contribution rates likely to increase, retirement ages increasing in line with the State Pension or the rate at which pensions build up decreasing. We have heard that in future employer contribution rates may be nearer 30% than the current average of 20% for many Local Government Pension Schemes. This will significantly increase on-costs in budgets. Insurance Funding Changes The EFA outlined in a letter to Academies on 14 February proposals for a new risk-pooling insurance scheme, and asked all Academies to take part in an insurance survey. Insurance funding allocations will change from 1 September 2014. There is no change to the national £25 per pupil funding included in the main allocation, but the £20 per pupil top up funding will cease from 2014-2015. Academies will be able to voluntarily join the risk pooling scheme and have insurance procured for them rather than undertaking the procurement exercise themselves. Academies can make their own arrangements, but if this costs in excess of £25 per pupil Academies will need to find the additional premium and can expect to be challenged over whether the arrangement provides best value. Academies should review their arrangements as soon as possible. Universal Infant Free School Meals You will be aware of the introduction of Universal Infant Free School Meals from September 2014. Below we have provided a number of web links to assist you should you need further information about a particular area. General advice document - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-infant-free-school-meals Support service for schools - http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/schoolfoodplan/uifsm UIFSM toolkit - http://www.schoolfoodplan.com/toolkit/ Capital allocations to support UIFSM - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-allocations-for-basic-need-and-infant-free-school-meals   So March is drawing to a close. The clocks go forward this weekend. Time waits for no one! But when you have a moment, School Business Services would welcome the opportunity to talk to you about the range of services it is able to offer – Finance, Management Information, ICT. When you get a minute call our Business Development Team on 0845 300 8179 or visit http://www.schoolbusinessservices.co.uk/