Leaders of schools affected by RAAC are facing long waits to be reimbursed hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on mitigations. Trusts and councils were told earlier this year that the government would cover both capital and 鈥渞easonable鈥 revenue costs incurred after they had to vacate buildings affected by the crumbly concrete. Baroness Barran, the academies minister, that the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) 鈥渘ormally鈥 paid revenue claims 鈥渙n a monthly basis, but if responsible bodies have cash-flow problems, we can do it faster鈥. But schools that scrambled to put plans in place after the emergency announcement to shut some buildings in August have reported delays and uncertainty in how their claims are processed. Schools wait weeks for RAAC reimbursements Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust in the north east has so far spent more than 拢860,000 in attempts to ease disruption after the material was found in three of its academies. The trust has received 拢55,000 back, relating to expenses in September, but has received nothing since. Kingsdown special school in Southend, Essex, waited about eight weeks to receive 拢53,000 due from the Department for Education, prompting a complaint by its MP. And in Yorkshire, Coast and Vale Learning Trust chiefs said they have been left in the dark by officials about how to claw back much of the 拢950,000 shelled out this term. ‘Tortuous process’ to claw back cash Nick Hurn, Bishop Wilkinson鈥檚 chief executive, said: 鈥淲hen the DfE needs a response, we鈥檙e asked to reply immediately. Unfortunately, it doesn鈥檛 work the same way when the DfE is asked to respond. Nick Hurn 鈥淭he problem with us is, because of the size of the amount, it has to get ministerial approval, which has slowed everything up. I understand that, but it鈥檚 a tortuous process.鈥 The trust spent more than 拢200,000 on transport, 拢190,000 on IT costs and about 拢130,000 on VAT for one of its schools to rent out space at a nearby college. Government said the DfE would 鈥減rovide funding for all mitigation works that are capital funded鈥. Caseworkers would provide 鈥渢he relevant form to complete鈥. Special school ‘one of most complex RAAC cases’ It also said that 鈥渁ll reasonable requests鈥 for additional help with costs 鈥 which include 鈥渢ransport 鈥 or temporarily renting a local hall or office鈥 鈥 were expected to be approved. But the advice said responsible bodies should discuss this with their caseworker and the ESFA 鈥渋n the first instance to agree any further support needed鈥. During an Anna Firth, the MP for Southend West, asked education secretary Gillian Keegan to ensure the claims process 鈥渋s light touch鈥. Keegan stressed each case 鈥渋nvolves its own complexities鈥 and that Kingsdown 鈥渋s probably one of our most complex鈥. Trust’s bill rises to 拢950k Louise Robinson, Kingsdown鈥檚 headteacher, confirmed the school received the 拢53,000 last month, about eight weeks after it put in the claim. It has also received a further 拢100,000 from its academy trust in case future claims are delayed. About two-thirds of Scalby School in Scarborough are now off-limits because of RAAC. Coast and Vale, which runs the secondary, has spent about 拢950,000 on capital and revenue costs since September, according to Michael McCluskie, its director of education. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been assured that we鈥檇 have somewhere in the region of 拢23,000 coming back to us. Other schools have obviously been able to claim back some money, but at the moment we鈥檝e not had any clarity over what that mechanism is. 鈥淥ur DfE partners tell us to keep a running tally of the costs and eventually we鈥檒l get something back.鈥 DfE promises to ‘spend what it takes’ Schools Week last month reported Sheffield City Council鈥檚 concerns that it could be financially penalised for putting 鈥渃hildren鈥檚 safety first鈥 and repairing the roof at Abbey Lane primary before the government committed to reimbursing costs. The work began two months before ministers committed to fund refurbishment and rebuilding projects. However, three other schools approached by Schools Week said they had not experienced any issues with reimbursements. And Tony Ball, Essex County Council鈥檚 cabinet member for education, whose authority area has more RAAC schools than any other, said the council, academy trusts and the DfE were 鈥渨orking well together to respond to the extent of the RAAC issues affecting Essex schools鈥. A DfE spokesperson said it would 鈥渟pend whatever it takes to keep children safe in school鈥. 鈥淲e have provided additional revenue funding to date to Bishop Wilkinson 鈥 and are considering further reimbursement requests. We are processing reimbursement requests to Kingsdown School and Coast and Vale Learning Trust as quickly as possible.鈥