Why the Best Decisions Happen Before January 

Budget planning for the 2026–27 school year has already begun in many schools. For senior teams and business managers, this is one of the most strategic phases of the year. For premises professionals, it is when important decisions are made about safety, maintenance and compliance across the site.  But forecasting premises budgets is not always straightforward. Ageing buildings, reactive maintenance, unexpected repairs and evolving regulations all create challenges when trying to plan with confidence.  That is where structure, clarity and collaboration make the difference.  Why Premises Budgets Are Hard to Forecast  We regularly hear similar challenges from schools: 

• Reactive maintenance using most of the budget

• Difficulties predicting high-risk areas

• Limited data to inform planning

• Uncertainty around future legislation

• Competing priorities within wider budgeting discussions  

These issues do not come from a lack of dedication. They usually stem from limited resources and limited time.  Safety Should Be Planned, Not Reacted To  To protect premises safety, schools need to identify: 

• What carries legal responsibility 

• What must be completed in the year ahead

• Where risks currently exist and how are they being managed

• Which actions are essential, and which actions can be deferred 

This means reviewing your last year statutory compliance information and review the strategic action required to ensure compliance and safety, this may include urgent short term and medium term actions in addition to life cycle works that should be planned within your 3-5 year strategic planning document.  Collaboration Creates Clarity  When premises professionals, business managers and senior leaders work together, budgeting becomes clearer because decision making is shared.  A collaborative approach helps: ✔ Identify risks early and plan suitable risk management ✔ Create more accurate forecasts to address risks ✔ Streamline audits and inspections ✔ Improve confidence across teams  Safety is easier to plan when everyone understands the bigger picture.  How NASPM Can Support Planning for 2026–27  Our membership options are designed to support schools during budget planning and beyond. 

🟢 Free Membership 

• Understand your statutory compliance duties 

• Access to selected checklists and templates

• MASPM’s monthly newsletter 

• 10 percent discount on all training

🔵 Premium Membership 

• All free member benefits 

• Access to the resource hub   

• 25 percent discount on training

• Access to toolkits and planning templates

• Additional resources to support structured premises management  

These tools help schools move from reactive spending to proactive planning, with safety at the centre.  The Time to Plan Is Now  Budget discussions for 2026–27 are already beginning. The schools that plan early often reduce reactive spend and gain greater control over safety across their estate.  NASPM is here to support schools at every stage of that journey.  👉 Explore NASPM membership options 👉 Join our nationwide network of safety professionals 👉 Contact us for premises planning support for 2026–27  Together, we can build safer, better-prepared school environments in the year ahead.