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About TCP

Please note - this page contains archived legacy programme inforamtion. For details of current capital programmes please click here.

Targeted capital funding provides support for a range of programmes aligned to specific policies.

These programmes include:

BSF One school pathfinder programme

The BSF One School Pathfinder programme (OSP) was announced in November 2004, with the aim that by 2011 all local authorities will have been funded to rebuild at least one of their secondary schools with greatest need. The OSP was aimed at local authorities that were scheduled to join the main BSF programme in Waves 10-15, and which were unlikely to receive funding for an Academy. Local authorities were offered funding to rebuild a school with the highest level of building need that fitted in with their long term strategic plan for education. Two phases of One School Pathfinders were announced involving 38 local authorities (13 in Phase 1 and 25 in Phase 2).

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Basic need safety valve

This programme provides additional funding to a small number of local authorities for school places to cope with exceptional growth in pupil numbers, where these cannot be met from other programmes, including the New Pupil Places (Basic Need) programme (see Devolved Programmes). Funding is provided to deliver additional school places in line with demand and is based on applications received for capital grant from local authorities. Payments are made quarterly.

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Standards and diversity

The programme was introduced to raise standards by supporting choice and diversity of provision. Specific priorities for use of this funding include:

The programme totalled £128 million -  £39m in 2008-09, £48m in 2009-10, and £41m in 2010-11 - with capital grants allocated by application either from a school or from a local authority. For VA schools, payments are made directly to the school. For all other cases, payments are made to the local authority on a quarterly basis.

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14-19 and SEN/disabilities provision

The programme provided those local authority areas not in the early waves (1 to 6) of BSF  with additional funding to support the provision of facilities for the delivery of 14-19 diplomas and/or to improve facilities for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. Local authorities are encouraged to utilise the resources for a small number of projects for greater impact, rather than spreading resources thinly. Resources should be deployed in accordance with local asset management plans.

The programme totals £558 million - £302m in 2009-10 and £256m in 2010-11. A flat rate allocation  is intended to give each authority, regardless of size, flexibility to use the resources alongside others to meet local priorities.  Funding is delivered through the 'single capital pot' to make it easier for local authorities to join up their allocations with other capital resources to increase flexibility.

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Kitchens and dining rooms

The programme was created to help local authorities provide kitchens in schools where currently there are none, and where there was exceptional need that would otherwise unacceptably impact on other capital priorities. Local authorities must aim to install kitchens which can provide hot food in their designated schools by the end of 2010-11.  Local authorities are required to report their progress annually to DfE, including reporting on take-up rates of school meals for each school.

£150 million of targeted funding was earmarked between 2008 and 2011. Local authorities were expected to provide 50% matched funding and to use the fund to complement their plans for BSF or PCP projects.

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Musical instruments

This capital fund is for the repair and purchase of musical instruments so that every Key Stage 2 child has a year's instrumental tuition. This fund supports the DfE policy to give over 2 million pupils the opportunity to learn a musical instrument for a year for free by 2011. PfS provides  funding to the Federation of Music Services (FMS) who  distribute funds to individual local authorities.

The amount distributed is based on a formula that takes into account the pupil population at Key Stage 2 with a weighting for social deprivation. £10m is available in each of 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11.  FMS submit claims to PfS, after receiving claims from local authorities.

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Further initiatives

In addition, announcements have been made to fund policy initiatives in relation to: