Tory-run Herts County Council is issuing advice to schools with ideas on how to use the Pupil Premium. The Pupil Premium was a key part of the Liberal Democrat manifesto designed to ensure that pupils from the most disadvantaged backgrounds get the best possible outcome from their education. The money, paid directly to schools, is not ring-fenced for specific projects but is cash for the school to put to the best educational use.

Hertfordshire County Council, however, is recommending to schools that they can use the funding to ‘plug’ the hole in the home school transport budget – which they have just slashed. Pupils who receive free school meals also receive free school transport: therefore the money will not reach those it is intended for.

Ron Tindall, Liberal Democrat Children Schools and Families spokesperson, said, ‘This is a shameful way to use extra money designed to help those who are disadvantaged. Research shows that bright children from disadvantaged backgrounds start school on a par with their peers, but by age 11 there is a huge gap. This money was intended to bridge that gap not to get better off children to school.’

Susan Gaszczak, member of the Liberal Democrat Federal Policy Committee, the body which works up Liberal Democrat policy to send to conference for members to vote on, said: ‘The Liberal Democrat Pupil Premium policy was designed to allow schools freedom to choose how best to support children from lowest income families. Unlike free school meals, which easily identify those in need, conference decided to let head teachers decide the best course of action which may benefit all or some.

‘I hope headteachers do not listen to the advice of the County Council but use this extra money in the spirit it has been given.’

ENDS

Extract from report

Overview and Scrutiny – additional information

Children, Schools & Families

1. To provide Members with information on what the County Council is doing to increase provision of in-house residential placements and to reduce the cost of independent social care.

CSF are increasing 4 of our units by one bed space so instead of offering 6 beds per unit they will now have seven- a total of 4 extra beds. These beds will be available from April 2011 and contribute £970,000 to the service’s transformation savings by 2012/13. In addition at the Adolescent Resource Centre there are now 3 new emergency short term beds for assessment of young people. In addition through improved commissioning we are negotiating more competitive rates for purchased care where specialist residential provision is required.

2. To provide members with advice as to whether it is sensible to remind schools that the pupil premium they are in receipt of could be used to assist with funding home to school transport;

National context – The Pupil Premium has been introduced by the coalition government in order to allow and encourage individual schools to address the needs of their most deprived children. The idea is to enable schools to remove barriers to learning and thus close the gap in achievement. Funding will be based on free school meals data and will go direct to schools. It will be for them to decide how best to use it, based on their knowledge of the needs of their local community and pupils. Local Authorities do not have the power to direct schools in their use of this funding.

Hertfordshire Context – Schools Forum recently set the budget for schools for 2011/12. In doing so, it needed to find savings and mainstream previously ring fenced grants in order to balance the budget. The budget has been set without taking account of the Pupil Premium. This will allow Hertfordshire schools to use the funding as they see fit.

Advice to Schools – Whilst the Local Authority cannot direct schools to use the Pupil Premium in a particular way, it can advise them and encourage appropriate spending plans. Officers have not suggested use of the Pupil Premium to fund home to school transport for children from low income families. Technically, schools could decide to use some or all of their share of this funding in this way. Such a strategy may well emerge as the Transport Policy review progresses, although this is not what the government had in mind for this funding. Nevertheless, if Members took the view that this is a helpful way forward, officers are well placed to introduce the idea as the consultation process continues.

3. To provide Members with reassurance that services are setting realistic thresholds to ensure service user demands and expectations are being managed.

CSF have produced the “Meeting the Needs” threshold document -this clearly sets out criteria for social care services and has received positive feedback from partner agencies. This is readily available to service users. The department uses established parent, carer and young people forums to consult and gain feedback on new policies and changes to service delivery.

A copy of the Meeting the Needs document can be found at:

http://compass.hertscc.gov.uk/area/hcc/csf/currcampaigns/gtoo/16384793/