Devon SLS Updates Newsletter: Special Edition | Request for Covid-19 adverse impact on school budgets

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Autumn term  |  3 November 2020

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Extension to deadline  |  Request for Covid-19 adverse impact on school budgets

(the first version of this bulletin was sent 21 October with a deadline of 3 November. Due to the half term break, we have decided to extend this to 5.00pm Friday 6 November 2020).

Dear Colleagues,

As you know, schools are feeling the burden of additional ongoing costs due to Covid-19 and we want to do all we can to raise awareness of this.

A NAHT survey back in June revealed that, of the 1,821 responses:

  • the average total estimated additional cost to a school that has and/or will be incurred in order to allow pupils to return to school is £9,990
  • the average total estimated value of lost income (for example, in rental or lettings) to a school as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic is £15,915

Whilst schools were initially advised that they could expect to be fully reimbursed for costs relating directly to the pandemic, it is now clear that additional expenditure to meet the government’s guidance on the safe readmittance of pupils will not be covered. Furthermore, the financial situation is further exacerbated by the loss of income e.g. through hire of premises. 

Devon SLS has received a request from the Local Authority to provide tangible examples of the adverse impact of Covid-19 on Devon school budgets so we can continue to lobby government and the DFE. We would therefore be grateful if you, or your business/finance manager would provide a costed breakdown on the form below (link to an Excel Spreadsheet).

Here is the link to the Covid-19 adverse impact on school budgets spreadsheet

Once completed, please rename your file and return to devonsls@devon.gov.uk by 5.00pm Friday 6 November 2020.

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We would like to reassure you that we will continue to lobby government and the DFE about the impact Covid-19 is having on budgets but they struggle to take this on board without evidence of real examples. This information will be collated and shared on an anonymous basis with the Local Authority to support our claims.

Many thanks,

Rachel Shaw  |  Chair, Devon SLS Schools Executive Committee


Devon Schools Leadership Services CIO

Devon SLS (formally DAPH and DASH - read more details about our new CIO Devon SLS in the July newsletter)

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Contact: E devonsls@devon.gov.uk     T  01392 380518    

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