15 Procurement Trends for the Big Education Recovery

Following the government announcement of their billion pound Covid catch up plan to tackle the impact of lost teaching time, schools have worked tirelessly to implement strategies from the ‘Education Recovery’ guidance. We saw a huge programme of summer schools rolled out across the country and there is still much going on in schools as they continue to channel time, funds and resources into the areas that will contribute to the ‘Big Education Recovery’. We look here at the procurement trends as UK schools call in the expertise of a wide range of high quality suppliers to help recover from the pandemic. Discover how your school can benefit by viewing recommended suppliers.

1. Sports Facilities & Equipment

With so many fixtures cancelled over the past 18 months schools are eager to get back to promoting
sport and competition within and between schools. There’s never been a better
time to invest in your sports facilities and equipment especially as this is
often the first thing other schools see when visiting your site for matches. The
great news is that schools can now use their facilities as a serious means of
income generation with the support of suppliers who can provide simple online
tools to fully managed services.

2. Outdoor play / play spaces

Pupils have had enough time locked indoors and schools that recognise this are investing in the
improvement of their playgrounds to promote outdoor activities. Playground equipment
suppliers can guide you through the planning, design and installation of your outdoor
space providing excellent after-care and maintenance services.

View recommended Outdoor Play Providers

3. Active learning

There have been wonderful examples of how many schools are embracing active learning
opportunities as an effective way to narrow the gap created by the pandemic
while keeping students active and engaged.
With the pressure on for teachers to cover all aspects of the curriculum
moving forward, including missed work, active learning strategies have really
come into their own and will be heavily relied on in the Big Education Recovery.

4. Wall graphics

For 18 months the signage and messaging around schools has had to be instructional and Covid
related. Now it’s time to really inspire young people with motivational
messaging throughout the learning environment. Expert suppliers are helping
schools to celebrate values and share their identity in vibrant classroom and
corridor displays.

5. Wellbeing (Staff & Students)

After months in lockdown and tier restrictions many children have not only fallen behind
academically but schools have witnessed a decline in pupil wellbeing. Teachers
are turning to a range of wellbeing support to supplement their own techniques
including workshops, children’s yoga, meditation classes, behaviour experts and
counselling services to name a few. Staff too have suffered a decline in their
wellbeing and many leadership teams are bringing in external support to boost
morale, avoid burn-out and aid staff retention.

View recommended Wellbeing Support

6. Recruitment

It’s been an incredibly challenging time for schools in terms of covering classes as staff
absence from illness, self-isolation and burn-out has reduced staff numbers.
Schools are relying more heavily than ever before on reliable recruitment
agencies to help them meet their staffing requirements whether that’s full
time, supply or PPA cover.

7. Online learning platforms

High-quality online learning provision made possible as a result of the innovation in remote
learning during the pandemic is something that will continue to be embedded in
the future curriculum of schools. This seamless classroom / home learning or ‘Blended
Learning’ as it’s become known will play a pivotal role in the Big Education Recovery.
It will support teachers in offering targeted support for all pupils while
supporting the government-funded tutoring revolution being implemented across
schools. There are a number of exceptionally high-quality providers for schools
to choose from with particular note to those which integrate with other online education
services.

8. Communication platforms and apps

The volume of communication between schools and parents has been on the increase for some
years however none so much as over the past year and a half. Many schools have
already moved to well-established communication platforms for sharing
information such as attendance data, progress reports, rewards and sanctions as
well as messaging and payment collection but more recently we are seeing a huge
surge in uptake by schools. Everyone has come to demand easy and convenient ways
of accessing information and communicating with schools and there are excellent
platforms and apps already being used.

9. Assessment

It has never been so important to ensure your school has a robust progress tracking system
in place in order to identify gaps in understanding. Over £300 million Recovery
Premium has been allocated for this academic year in addition to over £500
million to support tutoring and it is essential that schools are able to
identify pupils that require the greatest support to catch up on missed
learning.

10. IT and Communication

Whether it’s networking provision, broadband or hardware, schools have had to start investing
in their IT facilities throughout the pandemic to cope with the surge in demand
for online learning of students, remote working of admin staff and
communication from their wider communities. This academic year schools are set to
further invest in their IT and Communications infrastructure to ensure it is up
to the job of supporting the Big Education Recovery!

11. School Trips & Visits

A-Level Geography fieldwork, whole-school Ski Trips, Theme Park reward trips, Early Years first
visit to the Zoo, Year 8 residentials, language exchanges, sports camps, music
tours, museum visits, adventure holidays – We’ve missed them all, BUT THEY ARE
BACK! And ready to welcome you and your students. The only difficult choice now is where to go!

12. Stationery and Consumables

Classrooms are open, pupils are back and it’s time to get cutting and sticking, writing and
drawing, painting and modelling, printing and laminating. Staff and pupils will
be putting up displays, woodworking, designing, prop and costume making for the
next production … the list goes on. It’s time to order your supplies from fast,
reliable suppliers who are recommended as good value for money!

13. Cleaning, Sanitising & Air Quality

The Big Education Recovery is dependent on young people being in schools and as we head
into the autumn and winter it is paramount that school sites remain Covid-safe.
Hand sanitiser, sanitising wipes and sprays are all still essential throughout
schools. There has also been a huge increase in the purchase of air purifiers with
highly effective permanent and portable models on the market from experts in
air quality.

14. Training and CPD

Schools have been striving to keep up to date with the latest health and safety guidance to
keep their school sites Covid-safe. Where schools’ focus has been drawn to
other areas through the pandemic now is the time for CPD and Training to be
brought to the forefront to support in the Big Education Recovery. Schools will
be seeking suppliers to support them in achieving and maintaining compliance
and best practice across other crucial areas such as safeguarding, fire awareness,
mental health training, manual handling, trips and falls, food safety, stress
management, asbestos awareness and legionella amongst many others.

15. School Buildings & Maintenance

The next step of the Big Education Recovery is the huge expansion of tutoring. The government’s
£1 billion for the national tutoring revolution will see up to 100 tutoring
hours for children and young people across England. Space for small group
tuition is in high demand with many schools having to be creative with their
classrooms and offices in order to provide the additional space required. Design
and construction experts can provide your school with flexible modular
buildings or partitioning as excellent solutions to fit each school’s space and
budget. In addition, schools are facing the problem of building work having
been neglected due to fewer contractors being allowed on site, therefore the demand
has accelerated for reliable buildings and maintenance companies.

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