Areas of support

• Bespoke advice, guidance and support for school improvement and maximising achievement; this can include help with identifying priorities for the school and putting together a School Improvement Plan or short-term action plan. Follow up work would involve monitoring and evaluation against such plans in collaboration with school leaders.
• Analysis of a comprehensive range of pupil performance data and access to expert advice and guidance on its use.
• High-quality safeguarding support and guidance is provided to all schools. Strong safeguarding training, case management and supervision is part of the generic offer. Schools benefit from a dedicated person who provides tailored advice as needed.
• The trust is highly inclusive. The needs of the most complex and vulnerable pupils are met through a Trust wide approach to AP, Nurture, Pupil Premium and the effective use of the SEND and disadvantage strategy.
• Schools work within Hubs to provide peer guidance and share good practice.
• Advice, guidance and support to quality assure and develop teaching and learning.
• Professional development and support for leadership teams and Local Academy Committee members. This includes in-school assessment, tracking of pupil progress and raising achievement at least in line with national standards.
• Schools benefit from support to write and monitor self-evaluation documents and plans. The SIT team know the schools well so that the plans are bespoke, challenging and realistic.
• Coordinating learning networks to support professional development and school improvement.
• Targeted monitoring, evaluation and developmental feedback on teaching and learning.
• Pre and post-Ofsted/SIAMs support including guidance for monitoring visits.
• Support in using external quality assurance frameworks including gaining accreditation as appropriate.
• Quality assure and validate Senior Leader School Self Evaluation through carrying out joint monitoring activities.
• Professional dialogue with Leaders, Local Academy Committee members around barriers, priorities, strategies and solutions.
• Signpost to highly effective settings, provision and sources of training, including DfE Hubs.
• Facilitate half- termly Head Teacher School Improvement Briefings.
• Develop Senior and Middle Leaders through bespoke professional development and networks.
• Maintain robust records of school visits to support rapid development.
• Deliver whole school reviews.
• The Trust supports Early Career Teachers through bespoke training linked to national frameworks.
• Deliver Local Academy Committee members training on outcomes, the scrutiny of internal data and the triangulation of evidence gathered through monitoring activities.
• Deployment of lead practitioners or executive headteachers into some of our schools to give the additional support needed.
• Involvement in the recruitment of leaders or teachers.
• Facilitate Head Teacher appraisal.
• Where appropriate assist the Head Teacher in the appraisal of SLT and teachers.

Areas of support

• Regular planned meetings with the academy Head Teacher and academy lead Finance Administrator.
• Providing advice to the Head Teacher and the Local Academy Committee (LAC) on changes, both National and Local, which will affect the National Funding Formula and the implications of these changes for the academy.
• Advising the Head Teacher and Local Academy Committee (LAC) on the development and implementation of strategic financial plans for the academy, usually up to a maximum of five years.
• Production/review of Staffing Projections (independent check to compare to academy information).
• Production of the academy budget plan, including presentation to Local Academy Committee (LAC) if required.
• Maternity Pay, advice and monitoring.
• Advising, implementing and monitoring the budgetary allocations associated with support services within the academies.
• The sharing of good practice to maximise the resources available.
• Completion of Statutory Returns to the DfE/ESFA as appropriate.
• The monitoring of income and expenditure on the schools accounting system (Sage Intacct).
• Ensuring that the academies meet all the current and future requirements of regulations and standards associated with FMGS (in the first year) and audit as per DfE requirements.
• Implementation of/advice on Best Value.
• Ensuring adequate financial controls/systems are in place and maintained to reduce financial risks.
• Provision of advice and guidance in relation to Capital budgets.
• Advice on the termly CENSUS returns to maximise funding.
• Undertaking/reviewing monthly bank reconciliations.
• Production of monthly/termly returns as appropriate e.g. VAT reports; cash flow statements; income and expenditure from the trial balance.
• Production of Year-End Workbook/Accounts for DfE and Auditors.
• Reconciliation/review of VAT/salary control accounts.
• Advice and guidance on cheque book/BACS procedures to ensure good practice.
• Providing advice and guidance on the management/accounting for the use of debit cards.

This HR service provides the school with the reassurance that there is never any hesitation or barriers from obtaining advice. It consists of telephone advice regarding day-to-day HR matters, such as (this list is not intended to be exhaustive):

• Disciplinary and grievance matters.
• Performance management.
• Sickness absence and statutory leave.
• Day-to-day HR-related management issues.
• Retirements.
• Recruitment.
• Resignations.
• Strategic assistance regarding negotiations and consultations when varying terms of employment.

The HR team will complete regular visits to each academy to discuss any ongoing or upcoming issues, which will require HR assistance.

• To oversee the academy Trust’s planned and sustainable expansion and ensure the sustainability of a long-term model.
• To support each academy and ensure high quality provision and support, best value and economies of scale within each academy.
• To oversee the support services team and to ensure the services are of high quality.

The Operations team will provide regular Keeping in Touch visits, as appropriate, in the academies the first year to support the transition process and will meet schools more regularly if needed.

The Trust COO is the key contact if there is an emergency.

If queries or questions are of a specialist nature, for example, Finance or HR, schools should contact the support service colleagues directly but copy the COO into any email. The Operations team will support schools to resolve any queries and will work in partnership with school support staff.

• Condition projects.
• Compliance projects – to ensure buildings are compliant with relevant legislation.
• Safeguarding projects – often providing additional security measures or remodelling of pedestrian/vehicle access points.
• Emergency asbestos works.
• Block replacement/refurbishment.
• Component replacement – e.g. windows, doors, roofs, boilers and toilets.
• Energy efficiency projects.
• Boiler and heating system projects.
• Renewable energy.
• Lighting projects.
• Roof, window and curtain walling/cladding projects.
• Kitchen and dining facilities improvements.
• Access and specialist facilities for pupils with SEND.
• Other refurbishments – e.g. general refurbishment of classrooms.
• Improvements to external areas.
• Demolition.
• Expansion projects.

• Solution-based Health and Safety advice, assistance and support. Acting as the school/Trust ‘appointed competent person’ for Health and Safety.
• The development of school-specific Health and Safety policies and procedures.
• Polite and reliable telephone advice available 9am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday. Guaranteed response within 24 hours to all Health and Safety queries.
• A school Health and Safety audit will be completed to develop a management action plan. Support will be given to implement any specified requirements identified in the audit.
• ‘Hands-on’ support in the development and simplification of school-specific risk assessments.
• Proactive support will be offered for school Health and Safety inspections.
• Assistance with building-related Health and Safety management such as fire risk assessment, asbestos, safety glazing, Equality Act, etc.
• Support and assistance for the School Site Manager/Premises Officer.
• Liaison, assistance and support when dealing with enforcement agencies, such as the Health and Safety Executive, Fire Authority, etc.
• Attendance at School Local Academy Committee meetings to provide advice and support when making Health and Safety decisions that affect school activities.
• Access to a range of Health and Safety training i.e. COSHH, asbestos and legionella awareness, fire awareness etc. (Please see training programme).
• Support with RIDDOR incident/accident investigations.
• Targeted audits for outdoor play equipment, PE, Design & Technology, radiation, school science, etc.
• School staff risk assessment training to develop a positive Health and Safety culture.
• Support with Occupational Health referrals for staff returning to work i.e. stress risk assessments etc.
• Membership of CLEAPSS with full access to guidance and risk assessment.
• Signposting to other specialist areas i.e. staff counselling, asbestos survey, legionella risk assessment etc.
• Specific tailored on-site training for small groups included i.e. working at height/ladder training, evac chair warden etc.
• Access to ‘bank’ of school/college-specific risk assessments.
• Educational visits advice, assistance and support.

• Educating DDAT and DDAT employees on important compliance requirements.
• Training staff involved in data processing.
• Conducting audits to ensure compliance and address potential issues proactively.
• Serving as the point of contact between the company and GDPR Supervisory Authorities.
• Monitoring performance and providing advice on the impact of data protection efforts.
• Maintaining comprehensive records of all data processing activities conducted by the company, including the purpose of all processing activities, which must be made public on request.
• Interfacing with data subjects to inform them about how their data is being used, their rights to have their personal data erased, and what measures the company has put in place to protect their personal information.

The Trust’s DPO assists schools in dealing with all potential and ongoing data breaches, as well as advising on day to day issues and breach prevention. The Trust’s Operations Team holds a central record of all data breaches (which is reported termly to the Trust Board and liaises with relevant bodies such as the ICO and Action Fraud).

The DPO should be contacted if you have any concerns regarding data security, potential data breaches or would like general advice on compliance and training.

• Access to email and telephone support and advice.
• Support and advice for dealing with complaints.
• Clerks’ Fact Sheets.
• GovernorHub membership and support (training/guidance available).
• Access to FAQs and resources on GovernorHub.
• Briefing sessions for Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Clerks (two a year held in South and Central regions).
• Regular newsletters.
• Model Agendas (one each term).
• Support for new clerks and new chairs.
• One free place on New Governor Induction including a copy of the NGA Welcome to Governance handbook (worth £100).
• Package rate for all Governor courses.

• Keep up to date with the latest news and announcements from local and national sources.
• Have private online discussions with your fellow governors.
• Plan and book your meetings and school events in a shared calendar and link this to your personal diary on PC, tablet or phone.
• Store all of your governing body documents in one place.
• Find key data about your school via links to local and national sources. Look at data for similar schools or search for other schools.
• Browse and book training courses from your Local Authority Governor Support team.

Benefits of GovernorHub

• Governing body noticeboard and discussion page.
• Shared storage for all your LAC documents, minutes and policies.
• Events calendar for LAC members, at your fingertips or linked to your smartphone.
• Latest national news for schools and governors.
• Your LAC membership list, committee membership and key roles.
• Governing Body constitution record and vacancy report.
• Quick Governing Body health check for key Ofsted criteria.
• iPad app for viewing your documents offline enabling your meetings to be paperless.
• Latest local news for schools and governors.
• Integrated support from your Local Authority Governor Support team.
• Ability to book training courses online with the LA.