Financial planning is an essential part of good financial management. The budget sets out how resources are allocated and provides a mechanism for monitoring expenditure through the year. It should be the concrete expression of the School Improvement Plan. Clearly identified links are needed between the school\u2019s annual budget and its development plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Section 47 of The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 requires schools to be allocated their own budgets. It is the school\u2019s responsibility to plan and implement the effective use of these funds. Section 50(3) empowers governors (subject to the provisions of statutory regulations) to spend the school budget share (SBS) as they \u201cthink fit\u201d for the purposes of the school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Please see the link to the School Budget Share Calculator for the Financial Year 2026-27 below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The calculator is based on the October 2025 census, funding allocations and published NFF factors with Basic Entitlement reduced to take account of a 0.5% transfer to the High Needs Block and affordability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When opening the link, please ensure a copy of the calculator is downloaded to your computer for use, rather than using the Office 365 online version, to avoid any issues accessing and using the file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The preparation of budgets is an ongoing process whereby the initial assumptions are refined over time as more up to date information becomes available.
A number of tools are available including a spreadsheet-based school budget calculator that will help to calculate the financial consequences of changes in pupil numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Schools are required to provide budget monitoring information on a termly basis to their full Governing Body. The Schools Finance Team requires the budget monitoring information behind these reports provided to the full Governing Body in the format of an FRS report (see template below). All FRS reports are to be submitted using the Finance Information Community via AnyComms at three specified dates in the year, approximate to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Templates<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scomis FAQs – Bromcom Finance<\/a> – Please review this regularly<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Year End Process is designed to ensure that the accounts are correctly closed in accordance with all of the requirements placed on the County Council. In some respects \u201cClosing Down\u201d is largely a tidying up exercise at the end of the financial year. It finalises the Revenue Accounts and this leads into the production of the statutory statements and key financial measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following letters set out the requirements expected to be undertaken at the schools These will be sent to you via AnyComms for any 2025-26 adjustments you wish to post. Please ensure you use the template sent to you and do not use any templates from previous years. Note: If you are part of a single budget federation, only the hub school will receive an Excel spreadsheet for completion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you do not receive a spreadsheet via AnyComms, please let us know as soon as possible via our mailbox: financeschools-mailbox@devon.gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Deadline for submitting the End of Year Adjustments Workbook is 27th March 2026 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Please be aware that this is a submission deadline and further transactions will take place in school accounts beyond this date, processed by DCC departments. Final positions are only provided once the Schools Outturn meeting has occurred within Education Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The X-Back adjustment exercise will be carried out via AnyComms pre-populated form this year, please ensure you review the pre-populated form and be aware of the following information you may receive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For this financial year, your school will receive an AnyComms pre-populated form to enter your pay related 2024\/25 accruals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Numeric values must be entered as whole numbers only, with no decimal places. Please round your entries up or down accordingly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Nil Return Submissions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you do not have any adjustments to make, please complete a nil return by updating the rows you have received, with text to confirm a nil return and enter a zero, without any decimals in the ‘Amount’ field, to submit the nil return back to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Numeric values must be entered as whole numbers only, with no decimal places. Please round your entries up or down accordingly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Please be aware that this is a submission deadline and further transactions will take place in school accounts beyond this date, processed by DCC departments. Final positions are only provided once the Schools Outturn meeting has occurred within Education Finance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Notes on Completing the AnyComms pre-populated forms<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you do not receive an AnyComms pre-populated form for X-Back adjustments, please let us know via our mailbox: financeschools-mailbox@devon.gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n An AnyComms pre-populated form will also be used to collate school returns for this task. Please review the form and answer all questions, once complete, please return via AnyComms. This is to be returned to us by 31st March 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will require an detailed explanation for Deficit\/Surplus Balances that fall within the following thresholds. Please record your cumulative deficit\/surplus balance on the return:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note: If you are part of a single budget federation, only the hub school will receive a pre-populated form for completion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please take a print screen\/PDF copy of your entries prior to submission to ensure you have a copy for your records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you do not receive an AnyComms pre-populated form for deficit\/surplus balance reporting, please let us know via our mailbox: financeschools-mailbox@devon.gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Capital Accruals Return<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Please can schools submit any Capital Accruals along with evidence to the Capital Team mailbox by 5pm 27th<\/sup> March 2026: finance.financeschoolscapital-mailbox@devon.gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Single budget Federations need to return a Power BI extract showing all capital transactions for the Federation, analysing the spend by individual school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instructions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using Power BI(The Power BI Financial Data for Schools dashboard will allow the school to view this information on demand via the following link with joining instructions: Maintained School Data<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Please send these details to the finance.financeschoolscapital-mailbox@devon.gov.uk<\/a> by 5pm 27th March 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please note you should have already received the Leasing report to review and return by 20th<\/sup> March 2026. If you haven\u2019t received this document or have any questions on it, please email: finance.financeschoolscapital-mailbox@devon.gov.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n School Leases 2025-26 – School Review Document<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Year End Guidance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
End of Year Tasks – Revenue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Note: If you have difficulty opening the below documents, please attempt to refresh the page a few times as this has been known to resolve the issue. If not, <\/strong>please ensure that you clear your temporary Internet files and cache via the Internet browser settings and retry the links below:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
End of Year Adjustments – Provided via AnyComms as Excel Workbook<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Notes<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
X-Back Adjustments – AnyComms Pre-populated Form<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Blank pre-populated form received via AnyComms<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Deficit\/Surplus Balance Reporting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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End of Year Tasks – Capital<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Federations – School splits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Leasing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n