JNC Budget Underspends in Primary and Early Years
Renfrewshire Council · 12 November 2024
Back to Renfrewshire Council Joint Negotiating Committee for Teaching Staff — 12 November 2024 and its agenda
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Renfrewshire Joint Negotiating Committee for Teachers To: Renfrewshire Joint Negotiating Committee for Teachers On: 12th November 2024 Budget Underspends in Primary and Children & Families and Early Learning & Childcare Service Report by Joint Secretary (Teachers’ Side) Background Item 1 on the agenda of the Education Policy Board of 31st October 2024, refers to Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring at 13 September 2024. 1 There are a few statements in the paper that require elaboration and explanation to the Teachers’ Side of the JNC: In section 4 the paper indicated a budget underspend. 4. Objective Analysis - Significant Variances 4.1. Early Learning & Childcare - £0.819m underspend Employee costs are currently projected to underspend, mainly due to vacancies… • Could the Management Side explain the statement and give details of where the vacancies are occurring • and what measures are in place to recruit The paper later says in section 5: 5.1. Employees - £1.267m underspend A projected underspend in Primary teaching staffing is partly offset by projected overspends in Secondary and ASN teaching staffing. Projected underspends in non-teaching staffing in Children & Families and Early Learning & Childcare, arising mainly from staff turnover, are partly offset by an overspend in Additional Support for Learning due to the demand for Additional Support Needs Assistants (ASNAs). This has reduced significantly since Period 3 due to the removal of costs related to the teachers’ pay award for 2024/25, as full details of related funding is not yet known. 1 ECSPB 31.10.2024 - Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring as at 13 September 2024 (2)
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The Teacher’s side is seeking a breakdown of where the vacancies exist, particularly referencing Primary teaching staff to understand the statement and the £1.267m underspend. It would be helpful if the Management Side could give an explanation of the figures and of efforts being made to fill the gaps and to better understand the reasons behind the figures. Also, the turnover of non-teaching staff in Children & Families and Early Learning & Childcare needs further explanation especially as teachers’ workload may be increased where support is not available and service delivery will be impacted. The Teachers’ side is seeking clarity on this to know if there are particular hotspots and, if so, why? Where there is an indication of this what remedial action is being taken to reduce high staff turnover? The increase in demand for Additional Support Needs Assistants (ASNAs) is something that needs fuller explanation and assurances that all requests are being fully met. Is the budget allocated sufficient to satisfy the rising need and recognition of pupils with additional support needs. Action The teachers’ side is seeking assurances that every effort is being made to recruit any current shortfall in school and Early Learning and Childcare staff. The Teachers’ Side requests that the Management side commits to reporting back, on a more regular basis to JNC, an insight to teacher numbers as well as a breakdown of vacancies and recruitment exercises.