红桃影视

Vouchers and commemorative glassware to recognise long-serving school staff are among a wide-range of education services axed by councils in their bids to save money.

Hampshire and Derbyshire have both cut awards recognising teachers鈥� 鈥渆xceptional commitment鈥� for 25 and 40 years鈥� service.

Instead, long-serving staff get a certificate 鈥� which, in one case, the school has to print.

BBC analysis of 187 upper-tier authorities in the UK found they are making 拢3 billion in savings this financial year, but still face shortfalls of nearly 拢6 billion by 2026-27.

Many were drawing down on more than 拢1 billion in reserves, while 19 have called on the government for financial support to survive.

A school leader in Hampshire, who has worked in the region鈥檚 schools for 25 years, said: 鈥淚 feel bitter, it feels like a real knockback. I save parents鈥� letters 鈥� I鈥檓 passionate about it.

鈥淚 can see both sides. Money is tight, but there is a major recruitment and retention crisis. You would have thought they would do anything in their power to try and placate staff that have really given them everything.鈥�

Hampshire used to present vouchers worth up to 拢200 and host a formal event to mark staff with 25, 40 and 50 years鈥� service. They also got commemorative glassware.

However last year鈥檚 event in October was the last one.

A local newspaper reported in December 2022 that Hampshire had spent almost 拢200,000 on rewards vouchers for staff in the previous three years.

The council said at the time the awards were 鈥渙ne way we seek to retain talented and experienced employees, which also keeps recruitment costs lower鈥�. They covered all council staff.

Documents show Hampshire is predicting an annual budget shortfall of 拢175 million for 2025-26, one of the biggest in the country.

But its cabinet this week agreed to defer a decision to save 拢114,000 by cutting school crossing patrol officers.

A spokesperson said the council continued to recognise long-serving staff with a 鈥渃ommemorative certificate. For school staff, individual schools can choose to hold a special recognition event if they wish.

鈥淩ecognising and valuing our long-serving staff and volunteers, including those in schools, is important to us.

鈥淗owever, like many local authorities nationally, our budgets are under huge pressure now and into the future.鈥�

Derbyshire also ditched a similar scheme in January. Instead, council staff get a certificate 鈥渢hat managers can complete and download and provide to employees鈥�.

The council said schools could continue to provide vouchers, if they bought them themselves.

Schools Week last year revealed councils were proposing hikes to school catering fees, cuts to educational psychology costs and replacing crossing patrol workers with volunteers.

Louise Gittins, chair of the Local Government Association, said the 鈥渞isk of financial failure across local government could become systemic.

鈥淐ouncils already face a funding black hole of more than 拢2 billion next year. Having already delivered 拢24.5 billion in cuts and efficiencies, any further cuts on top of this would be disastrous.鈥�

She called for immediate financial support, long-term funding reform and a focus on preventive spending.