Content

11.1

The
Assistant Director or Commissioning introduced the report which
sought approval for Sheffield City Council to be the accountable
body to receive the grant funding of £1.054m via an MOU from
the DfE and passport all responsibility for delivery of the
programme with the associated funding to Learn Shefield for the
duration of the extension period to August
2026.

 

 

11.2

RESOLVED
UNANIMOUSLY: That Education, Children and Families Policy
Committee:-
 
a.   
Accept the DfE grant for SAFE provision of £1.054m for
25/26.
b.   
To become the accountable body to accept the grant of £1.054m
from DfE and third-party liabilities on behalf of Learn
Sheffield.
c.    
To agree a grant payment of up to the total value of the
£1.054m grant to Learn Sheffield.

 

 

11.3

Reasons for
Decision

 

 

11.3.1

If the Council accepts the DfE grant for this
work and passports it to Learn Sheffield, we successfully secure
this valuable resource for the city, but build more flexibility in
to the programme, including allowing the programme to run for the
full academic year 25/26 rather than having to end in March
2026.

 

 

11.4

Alternatives
Considered and Rejected

 

 

11.4.1

Alternative Option 1: Learn
Sheffield continue to directly receive the funding from DfE via a
section 14 agreement The funding will have to have been committed
and spent by end March 2026, restricting any opportunities to
revise the programme offer and limiting the time remaining to spend
the funding. The programme will continue across the summer term in
other areas where funding is devolved by Section 31 but would have
to cease at Easter in Sheffield. 5.2.

 

 

11.4.2

Alternative Option 2:
Sheffield City Council receive the funding from DfE for the period
2025/26 via a section 31 agreement and passport the funding to
Learn Sheffield to continue to deliver the programme. This is the
preferred option as it provides greater flexibility on spending the
grant, not least because it means the deadline for spending the
grant is the end of the academic year rather than the end of the
financial year, which better suits a school-based
programme.