The government will cover “all reasonable requests” from RAAC schools for funding to cover revenue costs such as renting alternative sites and bussing pupils elsewhere, updated guidance today states.
Last week, Department for Education guidance stated that such revenue costs would have to be paid for by councils and multi-academy trusts. Those having “difficulty” covering these costs were told to speak to the RAAC caseworker.
The refusal to cover such costs was heavily criticised. It left the chief executive of one of the biggest trust chains in the country reluctant to move classes too far from RAAC-affected sites, for fear of the spiralling travel costs.
But now the government has changed its stance – with amended guidance this morning telling leaders it expects “all reasonable requests” for additional help to be approved.
