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Calling all Local Authorities!
Supporting your schools starts with the right tools, and the right people.
Finance, budgeting and payroll tools built for LA teams and the schools they serve — with guidance from me, Jonathan Skelley, your go-to advisor at Access Education.
Take your first steps to better financial management for you and your schools
Watch a 7 minute demo
Instant access. No obligation. View everything our software has to offer in less than 10 minutes. Perfect if you're still considering your options.
Book a meeting
Ready to get the ball rolling? Sit down with Jonathan Skelley, our local authority expert, to see whether we can help you save time, gain financial clarity and improve collaboration with your schools.
Insights & strategies to support schools more effectively
This guide distils valuable insights from local authority leaders into a practical resource to help your LA respond with clarity, confidence, and the right digital support.
Why over 40 local authorities choose Access Education
At Access Education, we work closely with local authorities to make school finance simpler and more joined-up, whether you're managing it centrally or supporting schools to make their own choices.
We invested in the system, and in return, we saved time and helped schools save money. It really has been a win across the board.
Work with a team that understands your challenges
We understand the pressures local authority finance teams are under. You need to support schools effectively, manage risk, and meet compliance deadlines, all while working with limited time and resources. That’s why we’ve built our tools to do the heavy lifting for you. From oversight to integration, here’s how we help you take control and save time across the board:
Consolidated oversight
Real-time view of every school’s budget and actuals from a central dashboard.
Centralised control
Push updates like pay scales and inflation factors to all schools in one go.
Smooth integration
Budgeting, finance, and payroll tools all work together.
Statutory compliance
Custom LA-aligned reports that meet your exact format and requirements.
Time to stop printing mountains of paperwork!
More than software. A true partnership.
We’re not just a provider. We work alongside your team, offering hands-on support and long-term collaboration.
We equip your team with all the tools
We don’t just provide software; we build knowledge within your team. Our “train-the-trainer” approach equips your central finance staff with in-depth, hands-on training so they can confidently support every school you manage.
This builds long-term resilience, reduces dependence on external providers, and ensures your LA’s own experts can answer questions, solve problems, and guide schools through best practice — all using consistent processes across the board.
Reports, tailored to you
Every Local Authority operates differently. We tailor our reporting tools so they slot seamlessly into your systems and workflows.
Whether it’s creating reports that feed directly into your LA’s finance platform, generating statutory returns in the exact required format, or delivering a live consolidated view of every school’s budgets and actuals, we make sure you have accurate, ready-to-use data — without the need for manual adjustments or rework.
Payroll, budgeting and finance, connected
Payroll, budgeting, and finance shouldn’t be disconnected. Our integrated platform ensures that once data is entered, it flows automatically between all three functions.
This eliminates duplicate entry, minimises the risk of human error, and gives you a single, reliable source of truth. With everything connected, you can make faster, better-informed decisions, while saving your team hours of repetitive admin.
Why local authorities trust Access Education
Within 6 months, the first school in Liverpool went completely paperless with its financial management.
Access Education Budgets has massively improved budgeting efficiency across maintained schools in the borough.
Working across multiple schools has never been easier. I can switch between schools instantly and manage everything in one place. It has saved me a huge amount of time and made my work much more efficient.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many local authorities do you currently work with?
We currently support over 42 local authority finance teams across the UK. Some work with us across a small group of schools; others manage 400+ schools centrally through our platform.
Is this just another finance system?
No — it’s much more. Access Education offers an integrated suite that combines budgeting, finance, and payroll. Everything talks to each other, so there’s no double keying, and data stays consistent from school to LA level.
Can we customise reports for our LA’s needs?
Yes. We’ll work with you to build bespoke reporting templates that match your statutory and operational requirements — so you don’t have to waste time reformatting or chasing corrections.
What support do we get during rollout?
You’ll work directly with our onboarding team and your dedicated account manager. We also offer a “Train the Trainer” model — upskilling your team to support schools confidently without always relying on us.
What if some schools aren’t ready to switch yet?
That’s fine. We’ll work with you in stages. Some LAs start with a few early adopters and scale up over time. Our platform is designed to grow with you, whether you support 10 schools or 450.
Can your platform handle payroll as well?
Yes — we offer a fully managed payroll service that integrates directly into our finance and budgeting tools. If your LA is scaling back its payroll services, we can step in to fill the gap seamlessly.
How do costs work for local authorities?
We offer significant economies of scale for multi-school rollouts under a single contract. It’s more cost-effective than individual licences, and easier to manage centrally.
Is your software cloud-based?
Yes, everything is hosted securely in the cloud, so there’s no local install or manual updates — and your team can access what they need from anywhere.
We’d love to hear from you!
Whether you’ve got 10 schools or 450, we’re here to help. Let’s talk about your current challenges and how we can support your LA team and schools going forward.
Watch a 7 minute demo
Instant access. No obligation. View everything our software has to offer in less than 10 minutes. Perfect if you're still considering your options.
Book a meeting
Ready to get the ball rolling? Sit down with Jonathan Skelley, our local authority expert, to see whether we can help you save time, gain financial clarity and improve collaboration with your schools.
Latest insights on financial management in education
Discover valuable resources and updates to support your research and purchasing decisions. Our news and articles offer expert advice, case studies, and industry trends to help you make informed choices for your school’s financial management.
View all resources
School financial year-end: everything you need to know
Empower your school or LA with tailored finance reporting
What is the best financial accounting software for schools?
Leadership rountable: Perspectives on the education financial landscape
The ultimate guide to education finance software
Access Budgets Reforecasting resources
Benefits of integrated Budgets & Finance for academies & MATs
Access Central Budgets resources
Switching finance system for your MAT or academy
How to build a business case for school or MAT finance software
Software support when you switch to Access Education Finance
Benefits of integrated Budgets & Finance for schools and LAs
Switching finance systems for your school or LA
Ultimate guide to school budget planning
Solutions created by educators, for educators
At Access Education, we believe in simplicity. Our suite of integrated solutions is designed to seamlessly work together, creating a unified experience that transforms how you manage your school or trust.
- Financial Management: Optimise budgeting and financial management with real-time insights and simplified reporting.
- People Management: Manage recruitment, payroll, and staff well-being effortlessly.
- Parental Engagement: Consolidate communications and administrative tasks into one intuitive system.
- Curriculum & Assessment: Enrich learning with Access GCSEPod and Key Stage 3 resources, offering comprehensive content and insights.
Explore our full educational software solutions
Experience effortless integration, enhanced efficiency, and a unified user experience. Our solutions work together to simplify your processes, so you can focus on what truly matters: delivering exceptional education.
