Government cuts millions from 14 to 19 reform funding
By Ross Watson Friday, 18 June 2010
Funding for 14 to 19 reforms has been cut by £13.2m as the government has revealed the full extent of cuts within the Department for Education.
Education Secretary Michael Gove wrote to all local authorities this week with further details on departmental savings. This included plans to reduce the 14 to 19 local delivery support grant by £13.2m. The grant exists to support local authorities in delivering the 14 to 19 reforms.
Gove revealed that the £25,000 specialist schools capital grant — to help schools improve facilities to specialise in a specific curriculum area — has been scrapped. Grants from the Teaching and Development Agency for workforce modernisation and training for support staff will also be "significantly reduced".
Other reductions include cutting extended services capital funding by £25m, leaving £21m. In addition, the letter confirmed the scrapping of free school meal pilots due to start in September, 0-7 Partnership and Buddying pilots, and £5m of cuts to the play strategy.
Revenue funding for the 122 playbuilder authorities tasked with building or redeveloping 22 play areas, has been scrapped. Revenue funding for the 30 pathfinder authorities tasked with building or developing 28 play areas and building an adventure playground has been halved. Gove said that there are no longer set expectations on how many play facilities are delivered locally, while Play England's role in monitoring and reporting on progress has been reduced.
He called on pathfinders to make the staffing of adventure playgrounds a priority for remaining funding and offered a final meeting of regional play networks organised by Play England, welcoming views on where the government can best focus future efforts in the "new financial climate".
"My priority for this year has to be to invest any savings available within my department's budget, after our contribution to deficit reduction, in measures that most directly affect attainment for the poorest pupils," Gove wrote. "I recognise that these changes will mean difficult decisions being taken at a local level, as we are having to do nationally."
Latest stories from CYP Now
- Manchester councillors debate future of early years provision
- Government urged to address disparate uptake of free childcare
- BBC social work film prompts calls for early police support
- Young people in Derbyshire stage protest against youth cuts
- YMCA hostel closure to leave 250 young people without housing
Related Articles
Would you like to post a comment?
Additional Information
Latest jobs Jobs web feed
- Social Worker London Borough of Barnet £29,601 - £34,542, Barnet
- Deputy Director Children's Services (East) Spurgeons Starting £53,741-£55,084 p.a. rising to £61,867 p.a., Befordshire, Hertfordshire and Essex
- Children's Services Manager (South) Spurgeons Starting £36,313-£38,961 p.a. rising to £42,519 p.a., South England
- Assistant Manager Family Action £31,449- £34,484 inclusive of Inner London Weighting, Wandsworth
- Manager - Children's Commissioning Team London Borough of Sutton Grade SM1 Salary Min £46,050 Max £53,655 (unconsolidated), Sutton, Surrey
Most read
- BBC documentary exposes poor support for struggling parents, claims charity
- Two-week child protection inspections to start in May
- Children's commissioners voice concerns over welfare reforms
- MPs to scrutinise youth justice system
- School league tables to omit thousands of vocational qualifications
- Children's literacy skills found lacking in Wales
Most commented
- MPs to scrutinise youth justice system
- Manchester councillors debate future of early years provision
- Government urged to address disparate uptake of free childcare
- Young people in Derbyshire stage protest against youth cuts
- BBC social work film prompts calls for early police support
- YMCA hostel closure to leave 250 young people without housing




