1. ACCESS TO INFORMATION
1.1 The norms and standards (N&S) allocation for Grade R for the financial year extending from 01 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 is available on CEMIS and can be accessed in the following way:
Log on to CEMIS.
Click "Proceed".
Point to the "Administration" menu item and click on "Norms and Standards Allocation".
Select "N&S 2016".
Print the page.
1.2 Your attention is drawn to the following:
Allocations are calculated as per the National Norms and Standards for Grade R Funding, as amended in Government Gazette No 29179 of 31 August 2006.

The allocation letter includes a detailed breakdown of the indicative allocation for the 2016/17 financial year, as well as provisional allocations for the next two financial years, i.e. 2017/18 and 2018/19.
All allocations were calculated on CEMIS learner enrolment numbers as on 31July 2015.

2. CALCULATION OF GRADE R ALLOCATION
2.1 Approval has been granted to pay the following subsidy for learners in approved Grade R classes at ordinary public schools and registered early childhood development centres and independent sites with effect from 01 April 2016:
2.1.1 Ordinary public schools (all government controlled schools offering Gr R): Per capita subsidy:

National Quintile (NQ) Fee status of the institution Amount payable per learner per day
NQ1 No fee R 24
NQ2 No fee R 24
NQ3 No fee R 24
NQ4 No fee R 24
NQ5 No fee R 24
NQ4 School fee charging R 18
NQ5 School fee charging R 17

LTSM allocation:
For no-fee schools, an amount of R2 000 per month is payable for each class taught by a Western Cape Education Department (WCED) paid educator.

Minimum allocation:
All ordinary public schools with less than 25 learners are entitled to receive a minimum subsidy of R112 320 per annum.
2.1.2 Public pre-primary schools:
Each public pre-primary school will receive a norms and standards allocation of R17 per learner per day.
2.1.3 Independent sites (all privately governed schools offering Gr R):
Per capita subsidy:

National Quintile (NQ) Fee status of the institution Amount payable per learner per day
NQ1 No fee R 24
NQ2 No fee R 24
NQ3 No fee R 24
NQ4 No fee R 24
NQ5 No fee R 24
NQ4 School fee charging R 18
NQ5 School fee charging R 17
2.2 All Grade R learners must be registered on CEMIS to qualify for a subsidy.

3. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The number of approved school days per academic year will be used in the calculation of the subsidy, of which 50% of the allocation will be paid during April and the remaining 50% will be paid during October.

April tranche = Terms 2 and 3 of 2016 school year
October tranche = Term 4 of 2016 school year and Term 1 of 2017 school year

A new automated process for Grade R subsidy claim applications via CEMIS will be introduced during the 2016 school year and implemented from the 2016/17 financial year. This automated process will improve data quality by extracting, capturing and verifying Grade R subsidy claim applications at school, district and Head Office level. This will replace the current manual process for subsidy claims. Further communication regarding the new automated process will follow in 2016.

4. NO-FEE SCHOOLS OFFERING GRADE R

No-fee schools receiving Grade R funding from the state may not charge school fees for Grade R learners (see National Financial Management Guidelines in Respect of Schools Offering Grade R Classes, October 2009, page 4).

Parents may be requested to make voluntary contributions. These contributions are not compulsory and may not be used to exclude learners whose parents are not able to make such contributions.

5. USE OF GRADE R ALLOCATION
5.1 Salary of the Grade R practitioner
Schools are reminded that Grade R practitioners at all schools must receive the full 80% subsidy allocation which is transferred biannually.
Governing bodies of NQ 4 and NQ 5 schools are requested to augment the Grade R practitioner’s salary so that the practitioner receives an amount which is more than the minimum of R7 360 per month.
Grade R practitioners at no-fee schools are entitled to the full 80% of the subsidy.
5.2 Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM):
10% of the subsidy is allocated for Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) including both indoor and outdoor LTSM to the benefit of Grade R learners.
5.3 Operational cost:
The other 10% of the subsidy is allocated for the payment of the institution’s utility accounts such as telephone bills, water and electricity accounts, copying and printing, cleaning materials for and maintenance of the Grade R classroom(s), and any other services required by the Grade R practitioner.

6. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Normal reporting requirements must be adhered to, as communicated by the district offices, to effect the next subsidy payment.

7. FINAL ALLOCATION LETTER

The final allocation letters (based on the SNAP survey enrolment) will be published on CEMIS by 31 March 2016.

8. CONTACT NUMBERS FOR ENQUIRIES

Subject Name Telephone no.
Gr R subsidy allocations: General enquiries Ms N Ncede
Ms M Munnik
Mr S Ruka		 021 467 2071
021 467 2196
021 467 2657
Transfer payments to schools (N&S allocations) Contact the relevant Deputy Chief Education Specialist at district level.


SIGNED: PA VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2016:00:00