Coronavirus: Cash help is on way to Shropshire schools
Teachers or other staff not expected to lose jobs while up to £75k emergency financial support available for schools.
Schools will have access to thousands of pounds in coronavirus support according to Shropshire Council, which says it does not expect any education staff to be made redundant because of the crisis.
Large schools, those with more than 1,000 pupils, will be able to get up to £75,000 in support according to Shropshire Council’s portfolio holder for children’s services, Councillor Ed Potter.
Special schools can claim up to £50,000, as can mainstream schools with 501 to 1000 pupils.
Those with 251 to 500 can claim £30,000, while those with 250 or fewer will have access to £25,000.
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The money is to pay for free school meals, additional cleaning costs, and the expense of keeping schools open during Easter and summer terms.
It comes amid ongoing uncertainty over when schools will re-open as normal, with no confirmation yet from the government over one of the biggest coronavirus restrictions imposed.
Councillor Potter’s comments came during the council’s first virtual cabinet meeting, in response to concerns from the council’s Liberal Democrat leader, Roger Evans, over how schools would be able to deal with the unplanned costs of the crisis.
The cabinet member said he was satisfied that the measures would allow schools to stay within budget.
He said: “With all of these measures in place the risks of schools overspending in the current year are significantly reduced, while there is no expectation that schools will have to make staff redundant as a direct consequence of Covid-19.
“Council education finance officers will work closely with schools to carefully monitor the position as the sector comes out of lockdown and are happy to engage with members who have concerns about specific maintained schools.”
Councillor Potter said schools were also losing out on some valuable income, and do have access to the furlough scheme, although are expected to pursue other options before using it.
He said: “The one area that schools have identified as an issue is in respect of what is referred to as ‘private income’, which includes income from paid school meals, lettings, breakfast and after-school clubs.
“With these services either reduced or ceased, schools could face a shortfall in income over the financial year. Schools are being directed towards the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) for furloughed staff.
“They are however expected to exhaust all the options to meet costs from existing budgets or redeployment before seeking support from this scheme.”
