Room 28

Norwich, NR1 2DL

Minicom: (01603) 223833

PA&CS/JT/HLS 01603 222574

PRG LSS Grant/JT.Let

30^th January 2002 01603 222900

All Secondary School Headteachers

Dear Colleague

I am writing to consult on proposed changes to next year's arrangements for the Pupil Retention Grant and associated recharges.

1. The amount to be devolved to secondary schools will be increased from £1,107,000 to £1,377,000. Support from the Standards Fund for primary phase pupils who are excluded or at risk of exclusion will, however, have to be reduced a little.
2. At the same time, the LEA is required from later this year to ensure that all pupils permanently excluded and those excluded for more than 15 consecutive days, receives 25 hours a week education.
3. We are keen to encourage local flexibility and support innovation and good practice which prevents exclusion and maintains children in schools. We would be interested therefore, in schools being prepared to use elements of their allocation to, for example, purchase additional in-school support or fund additional PRU or Links 4 placements on a dual registered basis. We would also be interested in partnership schemes between secondary schools or within clusters which help prevent exclusion and enable pupils to receive full-time education and we would be prepared to consider matched funding for such schemes.
4. However, if pupils are excluded, either permanently or for a long fixed period, we have to have the resources to ensure the provision of full-time education. To enable this to be achieved we propose to increase the recharge for each permanent exclusion to £5,000 from April. This money will be used by the LEA to support education outside school or to support a reintegration package at a new school.
5. We propose to retain the current arrangements for recharging for exclusions of 16 days or more i.e. pro-rata, the recharge for permanent exclusions (5,000 ÷ 190 x the number of days excluded beyond 15).
6. These recharges are separate to any recharges of the AWPA or SEN funding which would continue to be recharged on a pro rata basis.
7. We propose that we retain the current formula and I attach a sheet giving the amount which each school would receive next year.
8. Because this grant is devolved to schools it is required to be used for ensuring the support for pupils at risk of permanent exclusion or the education of those who are excluded. I shall therefore require action plans before the grant can be released and a termly progress report on a form to be provided.

I look forward to receiving your comments on the proposals. It would help us to finalise the financial arrangements if I could have any comments by 15^th February.

In closing I should emphasise that these proposals are dependent upon the County Council being able to cover its share of the Standards Fund costs.

Yours sincerely

Encs.