Effective support to help schools manage budgets in Newport

The education finance team works intensively with schools to address potential deficit budgets. Where schools apply for a licenced deficit, this is only authorised if officers assess that the associated deficit recovery plan is both appropriate and achievable. For these schools, the local authority requires full governing body attendance at a training session with officers to set out the implications of being in deficit. Officers meet regularly with schools to monitor progress against deficit recovery plans. Five schools ended the last financial year with a deficit and only one school was unable to set a balanced budget for the current financial year. The investment in the capacity of the education finance team and the diligent work of officers mean that this is a more positive picture than was the case a few years ago.

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