Income generation? Really? Not sure we’ve got time for that at the moment!
Well …… there are so many things income generation could include:
Applying for capital funding for building works – HCC (LEA) or CIF bids to the ESFA.
There are costs for commissioning surveyor reports or architects drawings but they are one off for a project – and not hidden. The rewards can be transformational for your school estate.
Fund raising with the PTA
This can be lots of hard work but that is usually by parents and mostly requires lots of encouragement and a focus on some exciting targets (new play areas / outdoor gyms / Chromebooks) by the school, Head and SBM. There are some costs, additional caretaking and cleaning for example for event fundraising in school, but they are one offs for a special occasion and the costs are not ongoing.
Applying for grants
It takes time to find the grant opportunities to apply for and even more time to put together the application ensuring you use the right language; understand the outcomes you should include and pull together the evidence you might require. Unless it is a big bid, this is usually a fairly solitary exercise and ‘part of the job’ for someone.
Lettings / hirings
In some schools this can be quite a big opportunity to earn additional income. When setting your lettings rates you should consider the following costs:
- administration time:
- setting up the letting’s contract/agreement
- preparing a file holding all relevant documentation such as, qualifications,
- child protection policy, affiliation certification, insurance documentation and
- updating these documents annually.
- monthly invoicing
- energy costs: will there be additional lighting or heating required to accommodate the letting
- site staff time: for evening and weekend lettings will your site staff be required to unlock and lock up
Before and after school clubs
Should we, or shouldn’t we?
Have you been thinking that it was about time to review what you are doing with your breakfast and after school clubs? Well yes, you really should be!!
Clubs are definitely beginning to recover from ‘the Covid years’ and parents/carers know what their normal agreed working pattens are. Some schools are reporting numbers back to ‘pre C’ levels in the morning and ‘getting there’ in the afternoon.
What are the benefits of a breakfast club?
- it allows parents to drop their children in to a known, safe environment and allows them to get to work earlier whether at home or in the office
- breakfast is enjoyed with friends and can provide a calm start to the day
- food is provided and can be subsidised for FSM / PP children (from other funding lines)
- staff can identify issues from home before the school day starts
- it may help to avoid late arrivals or absence
- it may help parents to choose your school over another
What type of clubs do you run?
- breakfast clubs run by your own team or an outside provider?
- what hours do you open the club for?
- do you restrict your club to school age children (not nursery)?
- what do you charge for the session?
- are you providing healthy food?
- what is that costing you?
- how many staff do you need?
- does the external provider pay rent?
What’s important?
Your breakfast and after school clubs should break even; the total cost of the provision should be equal or lower than the total income from the provision. It is therefore important to accurately calculate the costs that will be incurred so that you can set up a reasonable pricing structure and decide place numbers.
Is it also worth adding in that analysis needs to be done on potential take up!
How do schools know what the expected minimum pupil number is?
How can they make sure that the school's budget won't be subsidising the club?
So how much is it costing you?
Good question – do you know?
When was the last time you checked whether the breakfast and after school clubs you are running are viable?
Termly would be good, checking whether you have the right staff contact ratio, can calculate your staffing bill with on costs (pension and national insurance) and identify changing associated costs too – energy, food etc.
What staffing will be required?
- this will depend on the number of pupils that attend the club
- pupils of reception age and over, require 1:30 supervision
- a lower ratio would be expected for safeguarding purposes
- the additional supervision is required for varying arrival times, food and activities
- consider what grades the staff will be paid and calculate salary plus on costs
- what hours will they work to be able to set up, run the club and clear away?
- what training do they need for this responsibility?
- what happens if a member of staff is absent, who will substitute at short notice?
- how much admin time is required to take bookings and ensure payments are made?
When calculating your staff costs:
- you will need to consider the correct pay rates, latest increases and latest on costs
- support staff on costs currently vary between 31% and 35% depending on the member of staff’s grade and also whether they pay into the pension scheme
- don’t forget to factor in the energy, food, cleaning and admin time incurred time to run the club
Training required will include:
- safeguarding and the use of reporting systems in school such as CPOMs
- paediatric First Aid training and refreshers
- food Hygiene – Level 1 for handling food and Level 2 if there is any preparation required
- often these staff are working without the support of your normal school set up working either early or late before or after other staff are working (who may be in staffrooms or classrooms away from the club area)
- they will need access to emergency contact details
- staff will need to be covered if absent to maintain the same ratios
What is even more important?
Clubs provide a safe haven for our children to be looked after by trusted professionals. They can give a routine to the start and/or end of the day that might not be available at home. They open opportunities to develop relationships and build communications skills with other children and adults in an informal setting. It is a mixed age group of children which gives an additional dimension to the opportunities the school day offers.
I used afterschool provision for my daughter from the moment she started school (she had been at full time nursery before this) and she really enjoyed it. Over time we mixed after school club with tennis, swimming and Rainbows and after school club afternoons and school holidays.
It was also at a very reasonable cost for before or after school provision (just make sure you are not losing money :-) – watch your costs!!) for me at that moment in our lives and can be a real lifeline for many parents/carers.
Don’t forget - you’re doing a great job getting this in place at your setting – just make sure you don’t lose any money whilst you provide these range of amazing services!
Anne Taylor
