Central Team Function
Supporting our schools in their day-to-day management and administration means that Heads of Schools are free to lead teaching, and the Central Team supports schools to run efficiently. Our Central Team has expertise in finance, HR, governance, premises, ICT and school business administration.
Our core offer to all Academies within our Trust includes:
FINANCIAL SUPPORT & MANAGEMENT | ||
---|---|---|
Internal and external auditing | Supplier invoices paid | Advice and guidance |
Completion of all EFSA returns | Capital accounting completed | Debt management |
Grant bid support | Bank reconciliations | Staff expenses processing |
Prediction of income streams e.g. Nursery, Pupil Premium, SEND |
PE Sports Grant and Pupil Premium spend reports | Monthly management accounts |
Childcare vouchers reconciliation | Budget monitoring and forecasts | Staffing scenarios |
Licenses for finance systems | Third party reconciliation | VAT reports and reclaims |
Admin staff training | Latest guidance | Finance Policies provided |
Cash flow forecasting | Evidencing VFM procurement |
PAYROLL | PROCUREMENT | |
---|---|---|
Third party payments made to HMRC, pensions | Support and guidance | |
Payroll reconciliations completed | Economies of scale via Trust wide purchasing | |
Electronic payslips provided for all staff | Support to ensure procurement compliance | |
Payroll checking reports | Compliant tendering processes | |
Teachers’ pension end of year certificates | ESFA Financial Handbook compliant | |
All pay queries dealt with centrally | Central contracts register held at Trust level | |
Maternity and paternity pay | School level support with purchases |
HR SUPPORT | |
---|---|
Advice on redundancies and redeployment | Assistance with recruitment and advertising |
Job descriptions and person specifications provided | Staff issues including harassment, bullying and grievances |
Staff absence and management | Support and attendance at staff HR meetings |
Occupational Health advice and support | Maternity and paternity guidance |
Latest guidance and legislation | Allegations against staff support |
All HR policies provided and updated | Staff wellbeing support |
Support with the TUPE process when converting |
PREMISES/HEALTH & SAFETY | |
---|---|
Staff risk assessments e.g. DSE | Audit visits |
Assistance with management of legionella and asbestos | Centrally held register of all checks and recheck alerts |
Procurement of contractors for major works | Guidance on latest regulations |
Project management of site work | All H&S policies provided |
Ensuring schools are compliant with statutory checks | Sourcing suppliers for specialised equipment e.g. Covid |
On-going training and support | Attendance at termly audit meetings and reviews |
Regular inspections | Educational risk assessments |
Vetting of contractors and method statements | Advice on all property and land matters |
Liaison with grounds teams and maintenance |
GOVERNANCE & CLERKING | SCHOOL DATA SUPPORT |
---|---|
Clerking of all LGB and Trustees meetings | Statutory data returns |
Creation and production of all policies | Support for termly census submission |
Director recruitment support | Secure access support |
Business interest register maintained | Trust wide performance and tracking data support via third party |
Secure Director area on Teams | National curriculum assessment tools and data transfer support |
Support annual skills audit | Key to Success and S2S data transfer support |
Production of annual schedule of business | Online school admissions process |
GDPR DPO Officer | |
FOI requests |
BUSINESS SUPPORT & COMMUNICATIONS | ICT |
---|---|
Training and support of all school admin staff when required | Effective ICT infrastructure |
Guidance on processes and tasks for all admin staff | Creation and management of school email addresses |
Newly converted schools support | Day to day support with any ICT issues |
Training on MIS relevant to the school and smooth transition to Trust MIS | Support with management of school websites to ensure compliance |
Support with +Pay and parent home school communication tools | Social media support |
Trust wide communications | Network safety and filtering |
Access to latest policies and guidance | Hardware maintenance |
Emergency cover at school level if required | Telephones and broadband procurement |
Support and validation of census returns | ICT licences |
Support with transfers from primary to secondary schools | Managed print support |