Nov 11, 2022, Derby Telegraph: Schools cash crisis could mean shorter weeks and staff made redundant https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/schools-cash-crisis-could-mean-7805590
Central England
A lack of cash could force schools across Derby and Derbyshire to make staff redundant, make the school day shorter and reduce additional help for the pupils who need extra assistance. School leaders in Derbyshire are among many nationally who are scratching their heads wondering how they are going to balance their books and make ends meet during the current economic crisis, if they are to avoid making staff redundant or cutting back on resources. One Derby school could introduce a reduced timetable for some children and the breakfast club could be axed if additional Government funding is not forthcoming. And another school head has not ruled out staffing cuts in the long-term. A snapshot survey carried out by the headteachers' union NAHT received 11,000 responses and of those 66% said they will have to make teaching assistants redundant or cut their hours. Half say they could do the sam lack of cash could force schools across Derby and Derbyshire to make staff redundant, make the school day shorter and reduce additional help for the pupils who need extra assistance. School leaders in Derbyshire are among many nationally who are scratching their heads wondering how they are going to balance their books and make ends meet during the current economic crisis, if they are to avoid making staff redundant or cutting back on resources.e for teachers. More than half of those who replied (54%) said they would not be able to balance their budgets unless they make spending cuts….
And many also warned they would have to reduce support for children, such as counselling for mental health issues, or extra help for individual pupils. Most of a school's budget goes on pay, so the 5% pay increase that most teachers in England received in September has had a big knock-on impact on finances.
The rising price of books, catering and transport are all having an impact on what the NAHT says is the ongoing impact of insufficient funding over many years and which is expected to be "around two billion pounds less in real terms by September 2024 than it was in 2010"….
But head teacher Paula Martin said: "However, our staffing costs have increased by at least 6%, our energy costs by at least 24% and basic supplies, such as paper, by 4.5% per ream, which is significant when you are purchasing 600 reams at a time."…
"Many of the children we have are special educational needs and disabled (SEND) children with high needs and needing 1 to 1 interventions. However, the SEND funding received only partially covers the additional costs that the school incur in caring for these pupils. We have had to take the decision that we will only be able to provide support based on the actual funding we receive going forward - that would mean part-time timetables for children who are most in need of support."…
