Extra School Funding and Support to Help Manage Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Extra School Funding and Support to Help Manage Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Government has announced today (7 April) that it will make extra funding available for schools to cover unforeseen additional costs incurred, including cleaning and keeping schools open over Easter.

The additional funding for schools will be available on top of core funding allocations that will be paid as normal to schools for the 2020-21 financial year. It will cover specific costs incurred as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, where schools are unable to meet these from their existing resources.

The specific costs schools can claim for are:

Additional cleaning required due to confirmed or suspected coronavirus cases

Increased premises related costs needed to keep schools open during holidays; and

Support for free school meals for eligible children who are not attending school, where those costs are not covered by the national voucher scheme.

Government has also published a list of high-quality resources that parents and schools can consider to support education at home.

The list includes a wide range of resources for all ages that schools can consider using as part of their planned curriculum and will be updated over time.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

“Schools across the country are going above and beyond to support children during this hugely challenging period.

“We must support them every step of the way, which is why we are making extra funding available, on top of existing budgets, to any school facing unavoidable costs incurred due to the coronavirus crisis.”

It was also confirmed today that the Government will extend financial support to children eligible for free schools meals who are not attending school during the Easter holidays.

The Department’s guidance on additional funding for schools is available here.

As the situation evolves, GRANTfinder will continue to report on any additional financial support measures as and when they are announced.