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Schools
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FINANCING OF MAINTAINED SCHOOLS REGULATIONS 2001 CONSULTATION
THE RESPONSE OF THE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
September 2000
BACKGROUND
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The Library Associationi
welcomes the chance to comment on the
proposed changes to the Financing of Maintained Schools Regulations. In
particular we welcome the opportunity to respond to the invitation to indicate
other areas of The Financing of Maintained Schools Regulations 2000 which we
believe should be considered for change. We will focus our remarks on paragraph
41 of schedule 1 of the regulations, which deals with the funding of library
services for primary and special schools and with the impact of the regulations
on School Library Services and how the regulations might be amended.
- The Library Association responded to Fair Funding: Improving Delegation to
Schools in June 1998 and to Financing of Maintained Schools Regulations 2000
Consultation in October 1999 outlining the concerns of library and information
professionals with regard to the delegation of Schools Library Services.
- Our remarks are made following consultation with every School's Library
Service in England and with school librarians from across England. Consultation
was carried out in July 2000.
- At present there are 89 schools library services in England offering
central library services to schools in 132 LEAs. They offer a unique blend of
services to support learning and teaching which include:
- advice and
consultancy for teachers and librarians in learning resource provision;
- up to
date resources which support new curriculum themes and educational initiatives.
Schools Library Services are recognised by many teachers as being a key factor
in the success of the National Literacy Strategy and the impact of the National
Year of Reading.
RESPONSE TO THE CONSULTATION
- The Library Association believes that
expenditure on library services for schools should be treated in the same way as
expenditure on services to schools provided by museums and galleries (schedule
1: paragraph 40) and allowed to be deducted from the local schools budget. The
decision to exclude museum expenditure was based on equity of access, raising
standards and best value. We believe that the same principles should be applied
to library service expenditure. We also base this argument on the emerging
impact of fair funding on Schools Library Services and on the potential within
Schools Library Services to support wider patterns of learning.
- Of the 74 Schools Library Services who can currently give projected budget
figures for 2000/2001 there will be an overall reduction from 1999/2000
expenditure on learning resources for schools of £354,385 associated with
impact of fair funding. This represents a reduction of 6.2% in spending on books
and multimedia resources by Schools Library Services to support teaching and
learning across England. Such reductions directly affect the achievement of
government objectives for improving literacy standards, particularly the roll
out into KS3 and negate the benefits of earlier government expenditure on school
books.
- Reductions due to fair funding have impacted on all areas of support
offered by Schools Library Services: 16 library Schools Library Services have
reported withdrawing services; one county Schools Library Service has removed
all support for secondary schools.
- The crucial role of advise and consultancy which Schools Library Services
offer to schools is also being undermined by the regulations, as Schools Library
Services reduce their staffing: 11 services have already reduced their staffing
with a further 10 currently examining possible reductions. Lack of expert advice
will directly affect the achievement of other government objectives such as ICT
and social inclusion.
- Whilst these figures are alarming and will inevitably impact on
achievement, they only represent the initial impact of the regulations. Many
Schools Library Services predict that whilst the present regulations remain in
force further reductions in service will be inevitable as the full effects of
the legislation are felt. We would therefore welcome the opportunity of future
consultations.
- Whilst no Schools Library Services have yet ceased to trade as a result
of fair funding several are in real danger. The services under greatest threat
are those within small authorities where the customer base is small and even a
small reduction in budget cannot be sustained. Small London authorities' Schools
Library Services are under particular threat - these are frequently in
authorities where indices of deprivation are high and where educational
resources should be fostered and supported. Two London authorities where
managers report their services as being particularly threatened include EAZs and
Sure Start areas.
- Two thirds of English authorities have taken advantage of the option of
devolving and earmarking budgets for libraries for primary and special schools.
In many authorities, the security which this option has offered the service has
been vital in allowing it to continue at all. Within this context, the
requirement to increase the target for delegation for all schools from 80% to 85
% represents a real threat to Schools Library Services. In many authorities
removal of the devolved and earmarked status of primary and special schools'
library budgets would be a fatal blow to the Schools Library Services.
- Whilst simplification and standardisation of the formula for
determination of budget shares is to be welcomed, The Library Association
believes it is crucial that sufficient flexibility is retained so that
authorities can continue to allocate wholly or in part on the basis of a fixed
sum per school. This flexibility is essential in order to protect the ability of
small schools to purchase services which can effectively support teaching and
learning.
- Library services have a crucial role to play in supporting new patterns
of learning: Informal learning; out-of-hours study support and independent
learning in particular. The recent report "Empowering the Learning
Community"ii
begins to examine ways in which learning resources in
libraries can be unlocked to help the entire community engage in a rich
diversity of learning opportunities. Fair funding inhibits this activity. It
means that Schools Library Services can only support the needs of formal
learning institutions who will purchase their services, they can not respond
effectively to the individual or the informal learning situation, new patterns
of out-of-hours learning, or even to the community generated learning
initiatives which are developing, for instance, amongst faith communities.
Public Libraries are also inhibited in their support for learning: Not wishing
to unfairly undercut the market activity of Schools Library Services many are
currently curtailing their activity with schools or limiting it with internal
"protocols". Allowing Schools Library Services to return to central
funded status will allow both sectors to enrich and develop their learning
support activities.
CONCLUSION
- The Library Association believes that Local Education
Authorities should be allowed to retain central funding for Schools Library
Services, following the example of services to schools provided by museums and
galleries. The fair funding regulations have already had a significant impact on
the services to schools offered by Schools Library Services, decreasing the
amount spent on books, materials and staffing, and reducing the amount of
support which these services offer to support achievement. If this
recommendation is not adopted then we seek assurance that the devolved and
earmarking approach to primary and special school library provision which is
currently threatened by the increased delegation target, is secured and
guaranteed in the medium term. Schools Library Services have unique potential to
support and enrich learning across the community, a fresh appraisal of their
funding will allow them top explore this potential.
i The Library Association is the professional body representing librarians
and information workers in the UK. Under the terms of its Royal charter, it has
a duty to promote high quality library and information services. Many of its
26,000 members work in the education sector.
ii Library and Information Commission "Empowering the Learning
Community" Report of the Education and Libraries Task Group to the
Secretaries of State for Culture, Media and Sport and for Employment and
Education. March 2000
http://www.lic.gov.uk/publications/
policyreports/empower/index.html
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