Using the Disadvantage Subsidy: Ask questions, discuss solutions here
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Paddy 31 March 2010, 10:13am |
Welcome to this forum thread. There have been and still are many issues and questions people are grappling with around using the Disadvantage Subsidy effectively. Here's a place on the Learning Exchange where you can address these. Please post your questions or concerns here and we'll let other members know. We'll do our best to help you find someone who can help and connect you up with Learning Exchange colleagues who can offer you useful advice. You can find out more about the Disadvantage Subsidy here - and please don't forget - this forum is where you can also share your good ideas and successes! |
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nhowes
09 April 2010, 12:53pm |
I am an ESCO in Herts and we were part of the pilot for the Disadvantage Subsidy (known as Extended Opportunities here in Herts) The fund has increased my workload that's for sure, but been worth it - the children and families that we are now engaging are some of our more vulnerable ones and the impact (qualitative and quantative) has been really great. Happy to answer any queries or questions you might have, but my advice would be to just get on and spend it and make a difference to those childrens lives! |
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Jo 09 April 2010, 1:01pm |
I managed the disadvantage subsidy funding BC (thats before ContinYou!) in the Bournemouth pilot. I set up the processes to access the funding in our pilot cluster of 14 schools. Luckily for me it didn't increase my own work load too much as I had admin support (a luxury I know) and paying providers was handled centrally by the authority which helped the schools. As well as through schools, locality practitioners such as health visitors, youth workers and education social workers could also refer children and young people who fit our criteria. Seemed to work well and certainly the money was being spent and children and young people benefitting..... Happy to offer nuggets of experience too! |
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4inone
13 April 2010, 10:13am |
I'm an ESC for a cluster of 4 schools in Windsor & Maidenhead; we have been a pilot cluster for the Disadvantage Subsidy (RBWM have named it 'Energise') since last year. I have been successfully implementing a way making the scheme sustainable after funding is expected to cease in April 2011. Sustainability has been achieved through negotiating free places with after school activity providers, in lieu of a school hall hire charge. We have gained a minimum of 2-4 places per session, which will be available to’ Energise’ pupils as long as the activity runs. Happy to help, if anyone needs advice. |
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heather stuart 14 May 2010, 5:33pm |
Can the subsidy be used to fund residential school trips? |
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Paddy 17 May 2010, 11:47am |
Heather, hi - I'll find out for you. Someone will answer you soon. All the best. |
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Paddy 17 May 2010, 12:03pm |
In the meantime, here is a list of FAQs from the TDA - Question 11 may be useful. I will put it on the Disadvantage - Narrowing the gap page in the Library along with anything else I find. Here's the link.  View attachment
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marian 17 May 2010, 11:44pm |
i don't think that there is a legal reason why not Heather, although usually schools have contingency money for these types of scenarios and so the funding should need to be used for this. Remember that the funding is for activities that the child really wants to do, not that the school wants them to so that needs to be borne in mind too. Hope that helps |
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Jo 20 May 2010, 12:11pm |
Hi there I know several schools that have funded school trips as the young people wanted to go. LA's usually have additional funding for the cost of accomodation and then the rest can be made up with all or some of the individuals allocation from the EDS. In both instances the pupils were desperate to go as their friends were all able to go so it was causing them some distress. The parents and young people (yr 6's) were thrilled. |
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victoria asprey 07 July 2010, 8:07pm |
Can any one please let me know if any LA has come up with a way to track the children and expenditure all in one for the sub money. Some one had suggested excel and then updating it monthly, but was hoping not to re-invent the wheel and hoping someone may have already come up with a time saving solution....help anyone!!! V |
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Jo Derham
09 July 2010, 7:06am |
Hi...we have a database in Portsmouth, which I know is now being used by other authorities - it will cost money though. It is populated by the city council and we can track participation of all children in the city in ES, including the cost, run reports etc. etc. It is compatible with SIMS so groups of children can be analysed to see if participation in ES has impacted on attendance, attainment etc. If you are interested in finding out more please contact my colleague Julian Wright jwright@paulsgrove.sch.uk Hope that helps, Jo |
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victoria asprey 09 July 2010, 2:36pm |
Thankyou Jo, ive got some training on the 20 June, for a new system that the LA will be trialling with my cluster (and will be funding, which is brillant) and its part of the new E1 system, so im hoping it will do similar to the one you talk about as its an add on to SIMS. Lets hope so anyway. Thanks again V |
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katestoop
01 October 2010, 1:25pm |
Hi all I have just joined and have a quick question about the disadvantage subsidy. Reading's disadvantage subsidy was suspended back in June and it looks like we won't be getting it back via the Children's Action Teams - it seems the funding will be spent through other chanels within the Council. I was wondering if there are any other LA's in the country who have experienced a simular problem or are we the only ones? Any feed back greatfully received Kate, Reading |
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Paddy 01 October 2010, 3:48pm |
"Hi Kate and welcome to the Learning Exchange. I've sent your request about whether other councils have suspended the disadvantage subsidy and channeled it into other work to the ContinYou team of Regional Development Managers and I hope one of them will answer you soon. I'm also on the case for you. All the best, Paddy"" Kate's post: 'Reading's disadvantage subsidy was suspended back in June and it looks like we won't be getting it back via the Children's Action Teams - it seems the funding will be spent through other chanels within the Council.'
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Kate Bahu
05 October 2010, 10:52am |
We were one of the pilot authorities in Oxfordshire and are great supporters of the Subsidy but there is one group for whom we still struggle to find activities - teenagers and in particular teenage girls who are notoriously difficult to engage. We have tried the Gym membership, youth theatre groups, street dance options but if they don't like any form of sport and are not into drama, we start to run out of ideas. Would be grateful for any suggestions. |
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Jancis.walker
05 October 2010, 2:19pm |
Hi Kate, i have worked in a sports college where we had the same problem but found a very successful solution. I now work for the Youth Sport Trust and have worked with schools with similar problems. There is not an easy solution but we found that providing a club that was owned by them (we invited each girl individually by letter), where they decide on the activities ( which were many and varied, they like variety rather than the same thing week on week), which are then discussed and agreed each term made them feel valued and special. The programme we ended up with was a mixture of physical activity (street dance, yoga, walking, trampolining etc) with health and beauty activities. Setting up the 'girls club' (they then named the club themselves) was very successful and led to real improved outcomes for some seriously challenging girls. These were girls who said they did not like sport but as they gained self esteem and confidence asked for more sporting opportunities. Jancis Walker, Youth Sport Trust |
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marian 08 October 2010, 6:31pm |
kate, what about music? DJing or more traditional instrument tuition could be options. Particularly if the groups are girl only ones so they are not intimidated. In my local area we have a brand new lovely skate park and no girls will skate there because the boys make fun of them. They are going to close the park for a hour a week to let the girls have a go on their own, with a female pro-skater who is willing to come on a voluntary basis. Hope this ideas help.
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marian 08 October 2010, 6:33pm |
Re the disadvantaged subsidy being taken away. I am not aware of any in my region (south west) however some authorities have just distributed the money straight out to schools so I am not sure of the mechanisms they will use to check if this has been spent directly on the children it is supposed to be for or absorbed into the school budget. |
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Tony McGovern 11 October 2010, 9:54am |
In response to Kate in Reading I'm relieved to say that in Hampshire the disadvantage subsidy 2010/11 is still being passed through to clusters to be managed by ESCos and cluster steering groups. |
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juliaeveritt 11 October 2010, 4:43pm |
The schools in Warwickshire on the county-wide roll out, have received a third of the funding and are to send back data by 22nd October. On return of the data form, they will get the next third and the final third in January, which is still the current picture |
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