Announcement from the Schools Accountancy Team - May 2020

Local Authority Maintained Schools - Budget & Strategic Plans – UPDATE

There are still a number of school 1 Year Budget Plans outstanding. If at all possible could these be sent in to the Schools Accountancy Team please, in the usual way as stated in the Budget Commentary 2020-21 or via e mail if that’s easier to do. If this is proving difficult please contact the Schools Accountancy Team on 01473 265626 or e mail sat@suffolk.gov.uk  It is important that these are returned, even during these difficult times so that the LA has an oversight and a level of assurance of school budgets for the 2020-21 financial year. We know that things will change so please treat your budget plans as a ‘live’ document and update accordingly in discussions with headteachers, senior leadership teams and governing bodies. It might also be useful to have a number of scenarios to inform your decision making, best and worst case plans for example. We will keep schools updated if the LA requires updated plans to be returned later in the financial year.

As set out in the Budget Commentary 2020-21 Strategic Plans were originally due back to the LA on 29^th May 2020. This is the usual date set, in order for the LA to scrutinise LA schools’ income and expenditure plans over the longer term. However whilst facing these unprecedented times and the impact COVID 19 is having on schools and educational settings, we would like to relax this deadline until further notice. School budgets and other government grants are guaranteed for 2020-21 but there is still uncertainty around levels of expenditure needed over this period and also a reduction in other forms of income that schools can generate. Schools can continue to work on plans as they see fit in order to inform the usual decision making processes in relation to income and expenditure, but the LA will not need these returned. We will review the situation as things change and update schools with any new deadlines set. Thanks and appreciation goes out to our School Finance staff who are continuing to ensure that school finances are being well managed during this very difficult time.