2015-16 FINANCIAL CALENDAR FOR SCHOOLS

Month / Council, Cabinet and Schools Forum / Budget Preparation and Budget Monitoring / SAP and other Financial Tasks
27 February Statutory deadline for formula papers issued to mainstream primary and secondary schools while deadline for maintained special schools is provisional 15 March (LA aim to issue as early as possible)
MONTHLY
PROCEDURES /
  • Cabinet receives Monthly Monitoring Report (MMR) on education spending
  • Schools Forum sub-committees meet prior to full Forum meetings
/
  • Produce budget monitoring for Headteacher and Governor consideration on a monthly basis.
  • Schools with a deficit budget, loan, special measures or cause for concern to send budget monitoring monthly to Schools Support Section
  • Voluntary funds (Special Purposes Accounts) an audited set of accounts to be sent to LA on an annual basis
/
  • Submit payroll forms for processing
  • Review and update income and expenditure profiles (plan version12)
  • Undertake monthly SAP tasks (see user guide)
  • As budget amended update to SAP (plan version 11) Note, schools not expected to amend budget plan before September

APRIL
(APRIL BREAK 30/3/2015 –
10/4/2015) /
  • Plan for the use of Devolved Capital in light of Asset Management Plan
  • Present budget plan and School Development/Improvement Plan to governing body and/or sub-committee(s)
  • Governors approve budget plan which is then sent to Schools Support Section
  • Governors review Best Value statement
  • (Education Support Services buy back documentation and return covers 21 month period and will not require further consideration during financial year)
/
  • Follow closedown/CFR guidance – 2014-15 old year – send required reports to Schools Support Section
  • Formula funding allocated into SAP (by local authority Technical Section)

MAY
(School Break 25 to 29 May 2015) /
  • Schools Forum reports on School Balances 2014-15, Update School Budget plans 2015-16
/
  • Publish 2014-15 carry forward
  • Statutory deadline for submission of school budgets, set 1st May
/
  • Allocate budget to SAP by 30th May (plan version 10)

JUNE /
  • Local authority Review of School Balances 2014-15
/
  • First “quarter” budget monitoring report to LA to be based on months 1 and 2 only (period April to May 2015)
/
  • Provisional deadline 21st June for Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) queries from schools to LA

JULY /
  • From 1 July SAP accounting system provided by Hampshire County Council
  • 17th July deadline for Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) to DfE (from LA)

AUGUST

/

SUMMER HOLIDAYS (21 July to 31 August 2015)

SEPTEMBER /
  • Schools Forum report on Funding Review for following years
  • Formula Review Consultation (provisional)
  • Schools budget monitoring to Schools & High Needs Sub-committee
/
  • Reflect actual September pupil admissions in budget planner for future years, begin to identify potential pressures due to pupil number, staff and cost changes
  • Consider current and new development implications on School Development/Improvement Plan (SDP/SIP)
/
  • (if any) Formula funding updates allocated into SAP (by Technical Section)
  • Review and update finance Policy/Procedures document

OCTOBER
(School Break 26 to 30 October 2015) /
  • Formula Review Consultation and proposals (provisional)
  • Formula funding model for 2016-17 to DfE (provisional)
/
  • 1stOctober PLASC count date
  • Update on Council budget strategy and funding model letters from LA (provisional)
  • Submit Budget Monitoring Report to Schools Support Section (due to be received by 15 October)
  • Continue consideration of current and new development implications on School Development/Improvement Plan (SDP/SIP)

NOVEMBER /
  • Formula Review Consultation and proposals
  • Formula funding model for 2016-17 to DfE (provisional)
  • Schools budget monitoring to Schools & High Needs Sub-committee
/
  • Use budget monitoring to review past expenditure to begin to inform budget preparation
/
  • SFVS self-assessment guidance 2015-16 issued, schools to programme appropriate governor meeting(s) to consider response

DECEMBER
(Christmas 21 December 2015 to 1 January 2016) /
  • Formula Review Consultation and proposals
Formula funding model for 2016-17 to DfE
(provisional)
  • Schools Forum
/
  • Use budget monitoring to review past expenditure to inform budget preparation
  • Updated Planner workbook issued (proposed)
/
  • Closedown notes and timetable for 2015-16 issued

JANUARY 2016 /
  • Schools Forum to finalise Schools Budget allocation
  • Schools budget monitoring to Schools & High Needs Sub-committee
  • County Council budget consideration
  • Schools Forum reports on draft DSG budget plans 2016-17 to 2018-19
/
  • Compare actual pupil numbers with those budgeted in budget planner, refine implications of potential pressures due to pupil number, staff and cost changes
  • Submit Budget Monitoring Report to Schools Support Section (due to be received by 20 January 2016)
/
  • (if any) Formula funding updates allocated into SAP (by Technical Section)

FEBRUARY
(School Break 15 to 19 February 2016) /
  • Formula funding model for 2016-17 confirmed by DfE (provisional)
  • Schools Forum
  • Schools budget monitoring to Schools & High Needs Sub-committee
/
  • Review School Development/Improvement Plan to identify budget priorities
  • Review data on expected pupil numbers (for future years)
  • Budget allocations issued Mid-February
  • Budget surgeries available (latter part of month)
/
  • Prepare for year end 2015-16 – review all processes and SAP documents (weekly during February and March) for out of date or unwanted items
  • Final Formula funding updates allocated into SAP (by Technical Section)
  • SFVS self-assessment to be submitted to local authority

MARCH /
  • Schools Forum (provisional)
/
  • Budget allocations issued on Intranet (statutory deadline currently Mid- March)
  • Guidance and updated planning tool available on Intranet (if required)
  • Budget surgeries available
  • Submit final Budget Monitoring Report to Schools Support Section (due to be received by 15 March 2016)
  • 24th March Schools last day open before break
/
  • Continue preparation for year end 2015-16 –submit year end returns to Technical Section
  • Devolved Capital balances published
  • 24th March Schools last day open before break

Easter Break 25 March to 8 April 2016
27 February Statutory deadline for formula papers issued to mainstream primary and secondary schools while deadline for maintained special schools is provisional 15 March (LA aim to issue as early as possible)
Information detail below is likely to change from 1 July 2015 as support services are provided by Hampshire County Council
For the most up to date financial information and processes, please refer to the Schools Finance
Section of the intranet /

SCHOOLS SUPPORT HELPLINE (Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 4.30pm, Friday 8.30am - 4.00pm, limited service 10.00 am to 2.00pm outside school term time) 0844 2642204

ICT SERVICE DESK 0845 052 1000
ICT Schools Support Team 0844 2642204 option 3
FINANCE TRAINING – Details of the training courses that are available on the intranet. /

SCHOOLS NEWS and SCHOOL FINANCE

Available on the intranet, with regular updates on finance and other issues.