Annex A

High Needs Block Top-Up FundingAlternative Provision Consultation 2013/14 – Analysis of Results

Question 1 – Which option do you prefer to be used to calculate top-up funding for Alternative Provision?

Yes / No / No Opinion
Option 1 / 0 / 5 / 0
Option 2 / 5 / 0 / 0
Option 3 / 0 / 5 / 0

Comments Raised

Does not take into account the extra funding we will need to purchase HR, finance package and support, payroll etc. This needs to be factored in, as currently we do not hold the budget for these areas.

Only viable option from choices above.

It is difficult to understand the detail relative to individual per pupil expenditure without a breakdown of the costs. What is included in the per pupil expenditure? Where is the money from school referrals going to? Why is there a marked difference in per pupil cost across the LA?

Other Comments Raised

It is essential that decisions are taken about affordability based on finer detailed costs to ensure pupil education is not only value for money but the quality of the education is World Class. It is essential that this quality does not deteriorate as a result of a decision that removes funds as seen in model 3.

What funding will there be for HR, payroll, finance package and support in these areas? How tied to the LA will we be regarding – Ordering/IT/Recruitment/Mobile Phones etc.

More questions than answers at present. Not been given enough information about how this will work. What systems will we still be tied into i.e. Marketplace, IS Service Requests, Working for Essex etc. Concerned about the topping up changing in the future. Also concerned that we do not have a consistent number of students, what if we go over our commissioned places.

Will staff be employed by the PRU rather than the LA? Will we be able to purchase goods without having to comply with the bureaucratic restraints of the LA, especially ICT, mobiles etc.? Will we be able to recruit ourselves instead of having to use capita and paying extortionate amounts for doing so? What will the role of the Management Committee be – will there be training for them?

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