Services to Schools

Introduction Building and Property School Improvement Service Finance Governors Human Resources ICT Legal Libraries Music Swimming

Introduction

This section presents our best-value services for one of our largest and most important customer groups - the managers of delegated budgets for schools.

We believe that there is a sound basis to our service relationship with schools and in an increasingly competitive environment we hope the information here will help to maintain and improve quality services for you.

The DfEE has issued a clear guideline to underpin this relationship.

'Any traded services offered to schools must meet Best Value criteria, and also be at full cost, with clear and well-publicised terms and conditions.

Authorities should make sure that services, particularly to small schools, are offered in the least bureaucratic way, avoiding unnecessary negotiating and monitoring.'

To meet these requirements we have laid out arrangements in this brochure.

If you cannot find the service you want please contact:

Henry Jackson
Tel: 01482 884973
E-mail: henry.jackson@eastriding.gov.uk

We also promise to involve you or your representatives in the regular cycle of Best Value Review of Services.

The Flexible Approach to School Services

We have to respond to a large number of schools with a range of sizes and diverse profiles of pupil demands.

The services offered here are presented in a variety of ways, partly to meet your needs and partly to reflect the type of service offered.

In all cases we ask you to contact us if you want to talk through your individual needs.

If you are satisfied with our service we are happy in most cases to simply roll forward existing agreements.

You are free to seek alternative suppliers but if you do it is your responsibility to ensure that these arrangements meet your statutory obligations.

We ask you to talk to us about the service provided by other suppliers because in some cases we may be able to develop a more acceptable package from our own service.

In the event that a School chooses to utilise the services of a contractor external to ERYC or a within school arrangement it will need to ensure that the external contractor or within-school supplier has:

• an appropriate track record in the quality of its service delivery
• appropriate insurances in place and in the case of professional advisors, professional indemnity insurance of at least 1,000,000 for any one claim
• a detailed specification of the services that the school requires
• a formal contract including a provision for liquidated damages as appropriate
• an approved health and safety policy (as appropriate to the nature of the work being provided) and monitoring processes to ensure compliance

Where due to negligence or other cause that supplier has caused a loss to the school the Council will not be able to assist and so the school must ensure that it has access to funds to meet any losses through financial planning and insurances.

In the unlikely event of any negligence on the part of the Council, through the schools use of colleagues based at County Hall, then the Council undertakes to remedy the problem at no additional cost to the school.

Contracts for the appointment for external suppliers need to be awarded in accordance with the Councils Standing Orders and Schools must familiarise themselves with their requirements.

New approaches

Following requests from headteachers we are offering additional services from personnel and financial colleagues on an hourly paid basis subject to adequate prior notice and availability.

These should be negotiated with the relevant officers.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council Tailor-Made Service

The aim of the ERYC Tailor-made service for schools is to significantly reduce the administrative burden for Headteachers of smaller schools.

The co-ordinator will be Henry Jackson (Budgets & Support Services Manager) but each service will also be in direct contact with the school as usual.

Before the start of the financial year we will agree an augmented service, tailored to your needs.

We anticipate requests for professional advice on financial and human resource issues and preparation of reports for governing bodies will be the main focus for discussion.

There will be an emphasis on assured support and response, freeing up valuable time for the Headteacher.

We will also cost in a detailed feedback meeting to ensure that service improvement and cost containment is balanced to meet the schools needs.

Budget Issues

Prices were quoted on the basis of the current financial year and for planning purposes Headteachers should anticipate an uplift for inflation. Price changes will be notified on the website after the budget and before SLAs are finalised.

New devolved budgets, currently the subject of consultation, will be added to the web-site once budget decisions have been made.

New Services

If you have ideas about new LEA services or new ways of delivering existing services please let us know. Contact Head of Inclusion and Support for Learning.

Jon Mager, Director of Life long Learning
Tel: 01482 884921
E-mail: jon.mager@eastriding.gov.uk

Continuous Improvement

If you have any comments to help us improve our services please contact the appropriate Head of Service.

Education Leisure & Libraries (ELL)

Jon Mager, Director of Lifelong Learning
Tel: 01482 884921
E-mail: jon.mager@eastriding.gov.uk

Finance

Steve Button
Tel: 01482 884631
E-mail: steve.button@eastriding.gov.uk

Information Technology (IT)

Barry Adams
Tel: 01482 884722
E-mail: barry.adams@eastriding.gov.uk

Legal Services

Sue Lockwood
Tel: 01482 885233
E-mail: sue.lockwood@eastriding.gov.uk

Operational Services Directorate (OSD)

Nigel Leighton
Tel: 01482 884167
E-mail: nigel.leighton@eastriding.gov.uk

Personnel

Arthur Bullement
Tel: 01482 884215
E-mail: arthur.bullement@eastriding.gov.uk

Building and Property

For further information please contact:

Doug Kermode, Operational Services Department Manager,
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Building Surveying & Engineering Services
County Hall
Beverley
Tel: 01482 395803
Fax: 01482 395068
E-mail: doug.kermode@eastriding.gov.uk

The group offers a comprehensive Building Surveying and Engineering service for the Authority.

The team consists of 21 Surveyors, 10 Mechanical and 11 Electrical Engineers.

We are solely responsible for maintaining, refurbishing and improving the Authority's property portfolio, via the Revenue Programme and in addition, link into the Capital Programme, working in tandem with Architects, Structural Engineers and Quantity Surveyors.

The internal client base consists Education, Libraries, Social Services, Corporate Accommodation, Housing etc.

A varied programme of work is also undertaken for external clients and agencies.

We assist in writing the Authority's technical policies and offer advice and guidance on all related issues.

We prepare and produce all technical specifications and tendering documentation, ably assisted by our administrative support team.

Delivery is the key to the group's success and is one of our main Key Performance Indicators.

Typical engineering projects are, designing heating and lighting schemes for both new and existing premises e.g. schools, offices and housing. Air conditioning and ventilation systems, compiling, specifying and supervising cyclical work programmes, energy audits and offering advice on legislative and statutory compliance.

Building Surveyors also undertake major project work, condition surveys and reports, schedules of delapidations, repairs and renovation studies, building defect investigations and building maintenance managements.

Specific advice is offered on CDM, party wall issues and asbestos management.

The Authority's building Portfolio ranges from Grade 1 Listed Monuments, prestigious civic offices, farms and smallholdings circa 15th century and new schools, work depots and offers many challenges in finding appropriate solutions to meet Planning needs, Building Regulations and client expectations and service requirements.

The Group is proud of its Charter Mark Award and strives for continious improvement through its commitment to staff training increasing technical competancy and ensuring awareness of Health and Safety legislation is regularly updated.

All staff are based at County Hall which is located in the delightful market town of Beverley.

School Improvement Service

School improvement continues to be a central theme in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The Education Development Plan sets out the key priorities. Many schools have built the priorities into their school improvement plan together with the specific needs which the school has identified through its own review processes.

The eight key objectives covered by the Service Level Agreement are:

• raising attainment in Primary education and early years;
• raising attainment at Key Stage 3;
• raising attainment at Key Stage 4;
• narrowing the attainment gap;
• support for schools causing concern;
• teaching and learning;
• inclusion;
• and ceativity within the curriculum.

The programme for includes a wide variety of curriculum, management and staff development opportunities.

Projects and Development Groups

Advisers and Curriculum Project Managers will work with schools to enable:

• project groups to set targets and undertake activities to support school improvement;
• the sharing of good practice across schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire;
• the exchange of good practice between participants;
• opportunities for group members to learn from each other and from local and national experts;
• a sharing of quality resource materials between participants;
• support for school-based development linked to group development;
• activity focused on improving the quality of the learning experience and on raising pupil attainment;
• classroom-based or school-based support.

Course and Conferences

An outline of in-service training activities will be made available to all schools.

It has been assembled to support agreed priorities in the Education Development Plan and in response to schools' curriculum and staff development priorities for the coming academic year.

As far as possible, the programme also includes opportunities to explore current and emerging national issues and the impact these will have in school.

School-based Support

The purchase of a Service Level Agreement by schools entitles them to use the advice and support time allocated to them as they wish.

The involvement of Advisers, Curriculum Project Managers and Consultants for the training and development might include:

• whole staff teams
• groups or individual teachers
• the Governing body, and
• staff and/or governors from schools working within a partnership or cluster

Core activities

Schools are encouraged to plan on the basis of a set of activities which will be required by all schools and then to consider what enhancement may be necessary to facilitate specific development work.

The core activities are:

• support for literacy, numeracy and ICT;
• support for the governing body;
• management advice.

Enhancements to the core activity may well vary from year to year.

In planning for these, schools should take the following aspects of SIS Team support into account:

• the quantity of training which the school proposes to undertake;
• the support necessary following an OFSTED inspection;
• access to specific curriculum projects;
• any senior appointments for which the school may need support;
• access to specific curriculum materials;
• support for any newly qualified teachers or other staffing issues;
• support in the investigation of complaints or specific management issues.

For further information please contact:

Philip Holmes, Head of School Improvement Service
Tel: 01482 492400
E-mail:philip.holmes@eastrinding.gov.uk

Finance

Please follow the link to the Financial information, which as an information area, has been removed from beneath the School Improvement Services umbrella.

Finance / Standards Funds

Governors

Governors' Clerking

Please click on the icon below to read, save or print the document.

Clerking Governing Bodies - Service Level Agreement

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Human Resources

Please click on the icon below to read, save or print the Human Resources: Personnel Services document.

Human Resources

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Information Communication Technology

Text here

Legal

Please click on the icon below to read, save or print the Legal Services.

Legal Services

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Libraries

Schools' Library Service.

www.eriding.net/schoolslibrary/index.shtml - Schools Library Service web pages.

Aim

To offer the following to schools:

• a high quality, comprehensive range of learning resources to support the delivery of the National Curriculum in schools
• professional expertise in the organisation and management of the school's own resources
• support in promoting language and literacy skills through reading
• professional expertise and support in the development of children's information handling skills, including ICT skills
• encouragement to children to enjoy books and reading

To achieve this the Schools Library Service provides the following services:

Project Loans

Each project loan is a box of books to support classroom project work.

• Primary Schools - One project loan per full time equivalent teacher per term (25 books per project). Extra collections, subject to availability, can be requested at a standard charge (currently £25 per box of 25 books per term)
• Secondary Schools - No allocation

Benefits to the school are:

• constantly revised and updated stock
• more cost effective use of school funds to lease rather than purchase resources
• facility to exchange resources to meet changing curriculum needs
• accessibility - mail order
• resources are delivered direct to the school

Bulk Loans

A wide-ranging collection of fiction and non-fiction books loaned to the school to supplement and support the schools resources.

• Primary Schools - The Schools Library Service mobile will visit each school twice a year for a two-hour period. The allocation is 1.5 books per pupil, with a minimum allocation of 200 books)
• Secondary Schools - Visits can be made to the Schools Library Service at Skirlaugh for teachers to select stock or this can be pre-selected by the professional team. The allocation is 0.5 books per pupil

Benefits to the school:

• ability to exchange a large quantity of leased resources on a regular basis
• opportunity for primary school teachers and pupils to select their own books from a resource which is brought to their door
• constantly revised and updated stock
• more cost effective use of school funds to lease rather than purchase resources
• expertise of professionally trained staff to select resources (secondary schools) which can be delivered direct to the school

Advisory services

The Schools Library Service staff will provide professional advice on the development of the school's own library and the promotion of books and reading. Areas which could be included are:

• re-organising the existing library or setting up a new service
• producing a library policy
• pre-OFSTED visits
• stock editing and identifying stock deficiencies
• talks
• story telling
• information retrieval skills

Currently, under the Service Level Agreement, this service is offered to schools who subscribe to the Schools Library Service and entitles the school to a half-day visit per year. Charges for additional time will be made.

Benefits to the school:

• specialist, professional expertise tailored to specific requirements
• on site visits arranged at a convenient time
• objective assessment of the school library provision against specific OFSTED criteria
• support in drawing up an action plan for the development of the library and its resources

Additional Services

• additional collections of fiction/non fiction - currently charged at 75p per title per term
• additional advisory services- cost to be negotiated
• special collections - currently 75p per item per term (max 15 items)
• library consultancy - cost to be negotiated

For further information please contact:

Avo Kurvits, Senior Librarian - Schools Library Service
Tel: 01482 885270

Music

Instrumental and Vocal Music Tuition

"The purpose of the East Riding Schools' Music Service is to enrich and enhance the lives of children and the community of the East Riding by actively supporting and developing Education through Music"

Teaching is provided on the following groups of instruments:

Strings
Woodwind
Brass
Percussion
Voice
Guitar
Recorder

Curriculum Support for Music

The Service Provides:

• a high quality professional peripatetic music service tailored to meet the needs of the schools and Curriculum Support for Music in our 'small schools'
• opportunities for children and young people to play with enjoyment in workshops and ensembles
• advice and support to heads, teachers, parents and children with regard to instrumental tuition, instrument purchase and general matters relating to community music making
• a close liaison with the Curriculum and Quality Development Team, professional associations, heads and teachers in all matters relating to curriculum music
• a link with other agencies and organisations at local, regional and national level involved in school and community music making
• funding, musical direction and tuition for the East Riding Youth Orchestra, Senior Wind Band, Intermediate Wind Band, String Training Orchestra, Intermediate String Ensemble, Advanced String Ensemble and East Riding Percussion Ensemble plus a series of workshops across the East Riding
• a piano-tuning and maintenance service

The service

• provides all Secondary and Junior/Primary schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire with the amount of instrumental and vocal tuition that they request at an agreed cost and to guarantee a minimum of 32 lessons per Academic Year or a refund for absence
• is based upon pupil rolls an entitlement of 0.75 minutes of instrumental tuition time per pupil per week at Keystage 2 which will be charged at a rate of £4 per hour
• is based upon pupil rolls an entitlement of 0.95 minutes of instrumental tuition time per pupil per week at Keystage 3 and above which will be charged at a rate of £4 per hour
• over-entitlement time that may be purchased at a rate of £24 per hour
• ensures that our staff have appropriate qualifications and are regularly monitored for Quality Assurance
• provides the parents of all pupils receiving lessons from the SMS staff with an annual progress report
• provides termly invoicing for clear budget monitoring

For further information please contact:

Robert Mitchell, Arts in Education Officer
Tel: 01482 882681

Swimming

Head Teachers and Governors are responsible for their pupils achieving the statutory National Curriculum standards of attainment at Key Stage 2 for Physical Education, of which swimming is a mandatory element.

Key Stage 2 Requirements are to:

• pace themselves in floating and swimming challenges related to speed, distance and personal survival
• swim unaided for a sustained period of time over a distance of at least 25 metres
• use recognised arm and leg actions, lying on their front and back
• use a range of recognised strokes and personal survival skills

What The Service Provides

The School Swimming Programme is managed and organised through the Sports Development Unit (SDU), all schools are allocated 10*45 minute sessions and we currently provide the following service:

The provision of swimming teachers means that:

• all teachers are fully qualified ASA Teachers or equivalent
• all teachers are actively encouraged to attend professional development courses in order to keep abreast of current national initiatives
• the current pupil / teacher ratio is 18:1

Facilities:

• We ensure that all Facilities that are used for the School Swimming Programme meet current Health and Safety regulations
• The centre is within a reasonable distance away from the school
• We take on the liaison role between the school and the centre with regard to the hire of the centre, payment for the centre and any cancellation and re-arrangement of lessons

Transport:

• The SDU will take on the responsibility for the hire of transport for the School Swimming Programme
• We will act as liaison between the school and transport services with regard to cancellation and re-booking of transport
• All vehicles used for the School Swimming Programme will comply with current Health and Safety regulations

Advisory Service:

• All Schools currently on the programme have available to them a telephone support service giving rapid response to queries
• The programme is designed to give schools advice and support with regard to the delivery of swimming within the National Curriculum
• All teachers employed on the scheme will willingly support the school during all OFSTED inspections with regard to the delivery of swimming within the National Curriculum

Structured Grading Programme:

• The SDU have developed a structured, well balanced Swimming Award programme which contains 7 awards/grades that the pupils can achieve
• These awards/grades are divided into a further 3 levels giving a clearer indication as to the pupils attainment at Key Stage 2
• All pupils are eligible to receive a certificate of the highest grade achieved free of charge from the SDU

Cost

Schools will be charged for the service based on assessments of the costs for the individual elements, ie coaching, transport and hire of facilities in a similar format to the methodology for the delegation of funds. Further details will be provided following confirmation of delegation and budgets.

The service offers:

• a comprehensive Service Level Agreement (SLA) that will clearly identify the standards to which SDU will manage and organise the School Swimming Programme for your school
• a detailed report on the achievement of the pupils who attended swimming lessons
• assistance with further lessons outside of the SLA is available by negotiation

For further information please contact:

Mike Squires, Swimming Development Officer
Tel: 01482 882522