Decision details

At the request of Schools Forum, the Department for Education/Secretary of State gave permission to establish a central Schools Block DSG expenditure budget of £1,000,000 to focus on two areas:-
- Access
- Safeguarding
The budget is provided to deliver learning environment improvements within Schools, Academies, Pupil Referral Units and Learning Centres and it is expected that a 10% contribution will be required towards any project based on the estimate provided. For the final round, this was increased to 15% to ensure the funding is fully utilised. It is intended that the funding will be allocated over 3 year period with a full review and progression report supplied to School Forum in July 2018.
Schools Forum delegated responsibility for administering the funds through the Learning Provision Organisation Board.
The Board Sub Group discussed each application on a case by case basis following recommendations from Construction Services and the Learning Provision Organisation Team. Approved bids were felt to meet the defined criteria of the Safeguarding and Access Fund and as such approved under these circumstances.

To approve the Safeguarding and Access capital allocation for the Seedlings Nursery to the value of £20,956.23, which was provisionally approved by the Learning Provision Organisation Board Sub Group on 6 March 2019.
As this is a Local Authority setting, the Local Authority will fund the 15% contribution towards the works (£3,698.16). This is to be funded through the Safeguarding Fund.

Option 1 - Do nothing - This would put the safety of Doncaster children at risk.
Option 2 - Approve all applications - This would remove the focus of a limited fund from the highest priority cases.
Option 3 - Agree the decisions of the Board - To focus on the highest priority need and not fund applications where only enhancements would be gained to existing systems.
Option 3 is the recommended option to agree the decisions of the Board and prioritise the funding where specific safeguarding solutions can be identified.