Procurement

Spending the Council's Money (SCM)

Spending the Council's Money (SCM) applies to all Kent schools that are not academies. When undertaking procurements schools must do so in compliance with the Scheme for Financing Schools and the individual school's finance policy.

It does not apply to contractors or suppliers, either individuals or firms, who spend money received from Kent County Council through a contract to support their own operations.

The values stated in the flow charts below refer to the best estimate of the total cost (excluding VAT) of the contract over the planned contract period.

• SCM flow chart - £25k to PCR threshold for goods and services or £1m for works (PDF, 172.6 KB)
• SCM flow chart - over PCR threshold for goods and services or £1m for works (PDF, 145.5 KB)

The flowcharts together with the documents referred to therein constitute Spending the Council's Money (SCM).

Where schools require further advice, guidance and support around buying goods, services or works, and this is not provided in the above flow charts, they are encouraged to refer to the available DfE guidance on buying for schools

For particularly complex or high value procurements, schools may also wish to consider the free support available from the DfE’s procurement support service