School Business Services Providing the freedom to teach
Mission Statement School Business Services is one of the UK s leading providers of Professional Services to the education sector. The wealth of experience across our company ensures that our services are delivered to the highest standard, providing schools with the Freedom to Teach. Contents 01 Introduction 02 SBS Online Budget Management 03 Finance & Business Support 04 SIMS Support 05 ICT Support 06 Service Desk Support 07 Consultancy Projects 08 Academy Conversion Support
Introduction School Business Services is a leading global supplier of education products and support services. Across our core specialisms - Financial & Business Management, Management Information Systems (SIMS) and ICT - we offer consultancy, training, helpdesk support and managed services to all types and phases of schools. Whether your school is established, new or planned, and under local government control or self- managed, you will have unique needs, but also share common challenges with similar schools. All products and services are managed and delivered by teams that have a wealth of experience and an excellent reputation within the education arena. We are seen as the trusted partner to manage these critical requirements, allowing schools to focus on Teaching and Learning. SBS understands that each school is unique and as such, services are tailored to the individual needs of each school. The SBS technical, operational and commercial initiatives are driven by the developing needs of our customers. SBS has a superb track record of delivering services to schools, providing efficiency and cost savings whilst maintaining excellence with a personalised approach. With SBS, you can draw on our extensive experience and capitalise on best practice opting for as little or as much support as your school needs. Our definitive goal is to give you the tools and advice to ensure the very best resources to benefit your children and young adults, giving your school the freedom to teach. 1
SBS Online Budget Management SBS has developed SBS Online, innovative cloud-based budget management software incorporating both budget planning and monitoring in one easy-to-use interface. Innovative budget planning and monitoring for education SBS Online is designed to not only provide five year salary forecasting, budget formulation and a reporting suite, but also full salary and budget monitoring functionality, allowing the user to confidently forecast a school s year-end financial position. Features: Secure, easy access from any device Service desk support included Unlimited budget scenarios Accurate salary forecasting CFR, GAG and customised reporting Plan and report expenditure of ring-fenced funds Salary monitoring for complete budget confidence Budget monitoring for year-end balance projection Unique features for MATs, Federations, Trusts and LAs Seamless software integration SBS Online links seamlessly with all finance software. Contact us today at sbsonline@schoolbusinessservices.co.uk, call 0845 300 8179 or visit our website at www.sbsonline.org.uk for more information. Ideal for... Mainstream schools Academies Independent schools Free schools Trusts MATs Clusters Federations Partnerships Co-operatives International schools I feel so much more confident now when presenting a budget. I love this package; it is money well spent! Marilyn Growns School Business Manager Culvers House Primary School 2
Finance & Business Support SBS Finance and Business Services provides an experienced team of consultants and bursars delivering a range of support packages to help you achieve the best value from your resources. Flexible and bespoke packages are available to include on-site visits and telephone service desk. These provide you with the essential finance and business advice and support your school needs. How SBS can support your school: Telephone and email service desk support Bursary service Finance consultancy Budget management Remote support Finance systems and processes training Audits and health checks Our consultants are trained to deliver strategic assistance where needed, enabling your school to make effective decisions and efficiency savings where possible. SBS offers professional ad-hoc services as and when you need them. If you need a Bursar or School Business Manager service instead of recruiting full time positions, SBS can provide experienced and cost-effective consultants for your school financial management. Temporary staff cover School business management Academy conversion (see page 10) Free school opening support Implementing system databases Policy documentation production Fundraising bid writing Contact us today to discuss your individual requirements at sales@schoolbusinessservices.co.uk or call 0845 300 8179 Support Services to... Mainstream schools Academies Independent schools Free schools Trusts MATs Clusters Federations Partnerships Co-operatives Governors have said in a committee that our school is receiving brilliant financial support from SBS. With SBS support I am confident in my budget plans, as are my governors. Governors are receiving effective briefing, monitoring reports and budget plans that help them understand the school s financial position, including year-end projections and management of any surplus balances, allowing for challenge of expenditure proposals. Stewart Harris Headteacher Phoenix Primary and Secondary School 3
SIMS Support The MIS Service from SBS is delivered by a dedicated, Capita accredited team of educational consultants, with a wealth of experience in the delivery of SIMS support. Our expert team, including ex-deputy Headteachers, teachers and SIMS educational specialists, build trusting relationships with schools, providing consultancy and training to manage pupil and staff information. SBS offers on-site and remote support to enhance SIMS skills and knowledge, ensuring you maximise the capabilities of your school data system. Additional support during key calendar events will save time and aid Teaching and Learning. How SBS can support your school: Telephone and email service desk support On-site SIMS and Arbour consultancy SIMS health checks Remote support services SIMS and FMS training courses System migration and implementation Statutory returns, procedures and reports support Support for Ofsted visits SIMS guidance notes during key times Timetabling support Academy Conversion Contact us today to discuss your individual requirements at sales@schoolbusinessservices.co.uk or call 0845 300 8179 Support Services to... Mainstream schools Academies Independent schools Free schools Trusts MATs Clusters Federations Partnerships Co-operatives I can t thank SBS enough for all their hard work preparing for our Ofsted inspection. They are our 4th emergency service! The consultants always go out of their way to help and do things in minutes that would have taken me hours. Our SIMS experts are invaluable to us. Mary Draper Office Manager Gwyn Jones Primary School 4
ICT Support SBS provides key ICT development planning and implementation to ensure your school has a pro-active support partner, capable of growing schools requirements to meet or exceed those expected for the current ICT Curriculum. Across the board, ICT support services will work to establish and maintain a secure, smooth-running infrastructure - from the smallest fix to the largest project. Utilising routine health checks and remote monitoring, SBS will be able to spot potential issues before they arise. Our research experts will keep you abreast of the latest technology developments. How SBS can support your school: Telephone and email service desk support Remote support services and automation Procurement and leasing services Project management ICT strategy SBS can help your school with cost-effective leasing and procurement on a wide range of equipment and networking solutions, including touch screen technology, plus advice and purchasing of school software licensing. Internet security software and hardware reviews, including firewall security and data backup, can be added to your service level or purchased without an ICT support contract. Professional services ICT training courses Fully managed ICT services MIS and SIMS support Talk to us today about the latest touch screen technology Contact us today to discuss your individual requirements at sales@schoolbusinessservices.co.uk or call 0845 300 8179 Our ICT infrastructure was in a fragile state and staff confidence in our support provider was poor. On taking over the contract, SBS quickly stabilised the situation and began a programme of improvement that has transformed our confidence in the service and very significantly improved support for staff and therefore opportunities for students. SBS staff are knowledgeable and approachable and the off-site support and management is supportive and responsive. Shona Ramsey Headteacher Lammas School and Sports College 5
Service Desk Support Service Desk support across our core specialisms, Finance & Business, Budget Management, ICT and SIMS, is provided by experienced education consultants and engineers with a wealth of sector knowledge for systems, processes and current legislation. An unlimited helpdesk service means you have access to our specialist teams who can instantly answer queries or offer advice and best practice. Our crucial advantage is that the SBS Service Desk is a solution service, not a call logging service. Our customers choose us because we offer reliable, expert support with a personal touch that fits their budget. We implement CSI (Continual Service Improvement) on our Service Desk, reviewing how we work so we can ensure effective and responsive support for all customers. Our Service Desk team can complete operational tasks and reporting on your behalf freeing up time so you can focus on more critical tasks. Through the use of secure remote support software we are able to access your systems to help identify issues and ensure efficient resolution without interrupting you or the school day. SBS can support your school: Finance, SIMS and ICT query resolution Budget management support System issue identification Software upgrades and patches System and data housekeeping Transactional entries Analysis and reporting Statutory returns and procedures For more information contact us today sales@schoolbusinessservices.co.uk or call 0845 300 8179 SIMS support from the Service Desk has been second to none. I was new to the school and my role 18 months ago. The support I have received from SBS has been imperative to my own professional development. The Service Desk staff have been patient and calm and supported me with all of my queries whenever I have called and response times are excellent. I highly value the service and support I receive from SBS. Sandra Duggan School Business Manager St Clement and St James CE Primary School 6
Consultancy Projects SBS offers a wide range of consultancy services to support you at key times throughout the year or during school development plans. These can be included in an annual Service Level Agreement or purchased as a bespoke project. Our teams of specialists can assist with any small or large Finance, ICT or SIMS improvements, remotely or on-site. Projects can include: Finance ICT MIS/SIMS Audits and health checks Infrastructure and SIMS health checks hardware health checks Budget setting and review Remote transactional, processing and reporting Academy conversion (see page 10) Bid writing Office staff & responsibility reviews Responsible Officer Software and hardware procurement Remote network management & upgrades Server and ICT suite enhancements ICT strategy planning incl. esafety Business continuity and data backup Website design and hosting Module best practice reviews Remote upgrades, processing and reporting Preparation of Census, Workforce Return and End of Year Life after levels consultancy MIS system migration Timetabling Free school opening support We know that opening a free school is no easy task, especially when some members of the proposing group may not have worked in schools before. The SBS team of specialists can guide you through every stage of the process. SBS has worked with and opened many successful free schools. We can provide cost effective, structured services to suit a brand new school opening, focussing only on the key elements at each stage, allowing your school to make the best use of the limited early budget. SBS is fortunate to have worked closely with Place Group on many free schools. Circumstances are varied and the projects are very challenging but incredibly rewarding for all parties concerned. SBS has tendered, selected and implemented Finance and MIS systems and ensured they are customised to each school s individual needs. The experience we have had with SBS and the positive working relationships that we have developed have left us feeling very optimistic about the decision to implement a new MIS system. Clare Crawford School Business Manager Swiss Cottage School 7
Academy Conversion Support Academy support from SBS brings together the key elements your school will need for a successful academy conversion from beginning to end, and beyond. The options below focus on the finance elements of conversion, however, we can provide additional support services through other SBS specialist teams and our partners. Our services go far beyond the statutory reporting requirements for maintained schools, meaning you can obtain value for money by engaging services that are competitively priced. Our role is to give you an independent view based on factual information to allow the governing body to make the correct decision for your school or trust. Pre-decision Support SBS imparts a thorough understanding of the pre-conversion decisions, the role and responsibilities of governors and the potential impact on the school, especially with regard to the financial, HR and legal changes. Cost benefit analysis report Academy funding information Independent advice on all finance-related matters Conversion Support SBS will support you with the added workload by advising and completing finance-related registrations, returns and tenders with a clear project plan. VAT, pensions and data protection registration Financial Returns to EFA Banking and insurance Post-conversion Support After successfully converting, our support ensures the success and longevity of your academy. Financial system set-up and chart of accounts configuration Post conversion Academy Finance and Business Support Responsible Officer service Responsible Officer Service Experienced and independent consultant, who will undertake a series of detailed checks during quarterly visits. The main duties of our Responsible Officer are to provide the governing body with ongoing audits in 4 key areas: Accounting system Payroll Income Purchases For more information contact us today sales@schoolbusinessservices.co.uk or call 0845 300 8179 The SBS academy conversion team has an excellent working knowledge of how schools run, in addition to good business sense. Elaine Huntington Headteacher Honeybourne First School 8
SBS Offices Head Office 13 Fleetsbridge Business Centre Upton Road Poole Dorset BH17 7AF Tel. 0845 300 8179 Fax. 01908 410063 Email. sales@schoolbusinessservices.co.uk Regional Office Unit 1a Interchange Business Centre Howard Way Newport Pagnell MK16 9PY Regional Office BBIC Innovation Way Wilthorpe Barnsley South Yorkshire S75 1JL school-business-services-ltd @sbs_updates www.schoolbusinessservices.co.uk