Buckinghamshire Council looking at funding for coronavirus measures in schools today
During the Schools Forum this afternoon the issue will be discussed
Last updated 8th Dec 2020
From extra teachers to more handwash for students - Buckinghamshire Council will be discussing the issue of funding for coronavirus measures in schools today.
The Council's Schools Forum will hear about the extra costs, after the F40 group wrote to the government.
They represent areas where schools traditionally get less funding per-pupil than elsewhere.
Extra costs have put huge pressures on our schools since their return in September.
James McInnes is chair of F40 Group and he says there needs the issue of cost for these services needs to be addressed:
"Since their return to school for all children in September, there hasn't been any fund.
"The government did announce a fund last week, but it is extremely difficult to get money from it and it mostly relates to supply teachers and the extra costs there."
The group argue the pandemic has 'focused a sharp lens on issues that already existed', with schools in areas like Bucks finding it harder to cope with the situation than those with more cash.
Some of those costs include:
- Additional deep, preventative cleaning
- Extra water usage for hand washing
- Providing hand sanitiser
- Displaying floor stickers and signage
- Using large quantities of PPE in special schools
- Subscription to E-learning platforms
The government has reportedly suggested schools use 'the education settlement', but James argues this isn't what the fund was for.
He said:
"Now we say in F40, that extra money went into education to actually raise standards in schools, to level-up how much is spent.
"It's not really right to ask schools to use some of that money to pay for the exceptional costs of Covid-19."
The issue will be raised at Bucks Council's Schools Forum today at 1.30pm.