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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