Newsletter - Summer 2007


Contents

  1. Children's Centres and other Extended Services
    Government involvement in the planning and integration of second and third phase Children's Centres. find out more
     
  2. Architectural Design Service - Property Advice Team
    An effective solution to design, maintenance and building management problems.  find out more
     
  3. Are you considering changing your catering provider?
    Guidance on changing your catering provider including a full list of legislation and additional requirements. find out more
     
  4. Approved Lists
    New lists of vetted and approved providers.  find out more
     
  5. Training
    New and Updated list of all available training courses.  find out more
     

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Children's Centres and other Extended Services
The local authority has a statutory responsibility to develop a Children's Centre in every community by 2010 as part of the Government's strategy to deliver better outcomes for children and families.  The core offer for children's centre's includes: integrated early education and childcare, family support, health and social care and effective links with job and training opportunities.

The centres are being developed in three phases beginning with those in the areas of greatest disadvantage.

Leeds has opened and designated 23 children's centres in the first phase, some of which are based on school sites.  Initially each of these children's centres will have an advisory board with members from the statutory and voluntary organisations, parents and other community representatives.  It is advised that there also be a representative from the extended services cluster of schools.  Decisions made by the advisory board will be raffled where possible by Leeds City Council's Early Years Service.

The majority of centres in the second and third phases will be based on school sites.  Arrangements for these centres will differ, but due to the overlap with services offered through extended schools, it is envisaged that in many cases governance will come under the host governing body or an extended services collaborative committee.  It is essential therefore that governance is considered at the initial planning stage as this will determine many other issues such as procurement, human resources, finance and lease agreements.  Although such arrangements are fit for purpose at present, it is envisaged that these models may change in time to reflect greater community representation.  Business support and advice is available from the Early Years Service and Procurement and Service Advice Team.  Financial, human resources and estate management advice is available from Education Leeds.

The Government Support Service offers specialist expertise on different models of governance and is presently working with several clusters of schools to set up collaborative committees.

Further advice and draft documents may be obtained through contacting:

Kathryn Wilkinson, email kathryn.wilkinson@educationleeds.co.uk telephone: 0113 3950915 or

Angela Cox, email angela.cox@educationleeds.co.uk telephone: 0113 2451344

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Architectural  Design Services - Property Advice Team
Len Cawood, recently appointed Buildings Surveying Manager of Architectural Design Services (ADS), is keen to build on their already successful one stop shop for schools, to offer an effective solution to design, maintenance and building management problems.

ADS together with Jacobs UK Ltd, form the the Strategic Design Alliance partnership.  This partnership can deliver a wide range of project types; offer a central point of contact for customers requiring immediate and emergency services, with access to a bank of different contractors and a large team of multidisciplinary professionals.

Service Level Agreements are available for school or schools can contact the team on a 'one off' basis.  Some of the advice and services they offer are:

To access the team and the Strategic Design Alliance or to discuss your requirements contact Stella Anderson on 0113 2475399.

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Schools......are you considering changing your catering provider?
Those schools who are considering changing their catering provider or managing their own catering service in the future, guidance has now been compiled to help you in the decision making process.  The guidance gives you your options, the advantages and disadvantages of managing your own catering service, procuring from the private sector or appointing the Catering Agency.

Outlined is a guide to the considerable amount of legislation and the additional responsibilities that accompany managing your own catering service.

The guidance has contributions from the Catering Agency, The Building Agency, the School Meals Strategy Team, Procurement Unit, Community Dietician and the Procurement and Service Advice Team.

The document can be accessed here.  For further information telephone Rosie Denison, School Meals Strategy Adviser on 0113 243779 or Sheila Goodwin, Procurement and Service Advice Team on 0113 2475268.

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Approved Lists
The Procurement and Service Advice Team have published new approved lists for Telephone systems, Catering Consultants and Security Systems and Services.  You can access the lists here

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Training
Training courses are currently being arranged for Autumn 2007 and Spring 2008.  Courses include Specification Writing, Contract Management, Introduction to Tendering and SCMS (Supplier Contract Management System).  You can access full training course details here

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