Issue - meetings

to note the report and the attached internal audit report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Internal Auditor which presented the planned Internal Audit report on Early Learning and Childcare Setting Visits.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee review, discuss and comment on the issues raised within this report and the attached appendix.

In response to a question relating to the how head teachers were expected to follow the complex financial processes in relation to managing school funds, the Quality Improvement Manager advised that working with finance colleagues, guidance documents for all of the financial processes were added to a shared drive that all Head Teachers had access to.  She further advised that as part of the head teacher induction programme, finance colleagues provided information in relation to those guidance documents.  She explained that as part of the improvements, all head teachers had been asked to indicate their level of confidence in theirs and the admin teams around financial processes so that additional training could be offered if required.

In response to a question relating to Ref 1.2 – Purchase Cards and specifically whether more details could be provided in relation to the in person head teacher meeting, the Quality Improvement Manager advised that attendance at these meetings would be all head teachers or a suitable representative and that information relating to the purchase card guidance would be shared at that meeting.  She further advised that each Purchase Card holder is aware of the processes to be followed and that there were a small number of card holders in each school who had to complete mandatory training before a card was issued.

In response to a question relating to Ref 1.4 – School Fund and whether there was a model school fund constitution available, the Quality Improvement Manager advised that there was an exemplar school fund constitution in the finance folder.

In response to a question relating to whether the dates provided for completing the recommendations were on target, the Quality Improvement Manager advised that work was ongoing and that the service were on track to meet the deadlines.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the report and the attached internal audit report.

-        COUNCILLOR M.T. MALIK, Convener