The Local Authority for the past 3 years has applied to the DfE to request that rent is used as an exceptional factor. The LA will continue to apply for the 2017-18 financial year.
For a school to qualify for the exceptional rent factor, the rent payable amount needs to account for more than 1% of their total schools block/school budget share funding. We can consider some flexibility around this if strict application of the criteria would unreasonably disadvantage schools just below the threshold. For example where the rent payable is 0.94% of the total schools budget. For the majority of schools, rent payments will not apply. Please note that for Academies the LA still calculates and sets the budgets before the EFA reclaim and redistribute accordingly.
If you feel that you qualify, please could you provide details and back up documentation relating to rent agreements you might have such as:
- copy invoices
- contracts
- service level agreements
- any other form of written agreements
For any Special Schools or Pupil Referral Units, although funding through the high needs block differs from schools block funding, please still let SAT know of any rent agreements that meet the criteria and provide relevant details as stated above.
Please could you provide the relevant information and contact michael.quinton@suffolk.gov.uk or sat@suffolk.gov.uk or alternatively you can contact Schools’ Accountancy Team on 01473 265596 if you have a rent agreement and it meets the above criteria - by Friday 9th December. Please use the same contact details if you have any questions or queries.