Details of forthcoming events on Children's Services Finance will be posted here when available. To check for other CIPFA seminars or conferences, click here to visit the CIPFA Online Shop.

Technical Developments in Children’s Services - 21 Oct 2008 London
The sessions on this course cover technical financial issues impacting on the provision of an effective Children’s Services output. With a mixture of practical sessions from the DCSF, practitioners and regulatory bodies, the course offers a broad remit for experienced staff in the sector. Book now

Recent Response
The Further and Higher Education Panel jointly with the Children's Services Panel has responded to the DCSF/DIUS white paper Raising Expectations: Enabling the System to Deliver. To view, please click here.

* New - BSF and the VAT Burden for Local Authorities
For the past year, the CIPFA VAT Committee have been trying to resolve some VAT issues around the Building Schools for the Future Programme and particularly Voluntary Aided schools and academies. During these attempts, members of the Committee met with reps from DCSF, PfS and HMRC. While the outcome is still a little unclear, those LAs which are likely to be affected may wish to read a brief summary of what one committee member thinks the position is so far – we understand that some authorities could be facing VAT burdens of up to £40m on their BSF programme.

Full minutes are available online from TISonline – see at: http://www.tisonline.net or click here to read the summary.

An Introductory Guide to Education Finance in England (Fully Revised Third Edition 2008)
This fully revised and updated guide explains the development and evolution of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) alongside other changes to the funding arrangements. It also provides an insight into the changes that are due to be implemented for the 2008-11 period.

The 2008 edition of the guide is being released as a handy wirobound book and also as a fully searchable CD-ROM. This new CD-ROM format will provide purchasing LEAs with a much more flexible and accessible product which will enable it to roll out the new guide to all of its schools where suitable digital pathways are in place. Each CD-ROM also contains a bookmarked pdf of the printed document for easy reference.

For further details and to order go to the CIPFA Shop.

Panel Newsletter - Issue Number 19, March 2008
Click here to download the latest edition of the Panel's newsletter. This issue contains information on recent policy developments affecting Children’s Services Finance, including Area Based Grant, DSG Formula Review for 2011-12, the new Educational Procurement Centre and Academies. There is also some information about events and developments within CIPFA and about the Public Management and Policy Association (PMPA).