3.  After the first round of its use, in consultation with LEAs and the private sector, review the revised toolkit that assesses PFI credit levels, to ensure that it provides an appropriate level of funding and addresses the concerns raised in this report.

4.  Sponsor learning partnerships above the level of individual PFI projects by, for example, establishing a regular practitioners' forum for LEA contract managers (building on the existing 4ps networks ) and developing the DfES PFI website to become a wider source of tips and troubleshooting advice, and act as a forum for the exchange of new ideas.

5.  Supplement the already-available guidance produced by the relevant government departments, OGC, 4ps and other official bodies, concentrating on specific areas where the speed of change is producing information gaps, including:

•  the definition of output specifications and their integration with the payment mechanism to ensure that performance standards are being appropriately defined and the correct financial incentives are in place;

•  a set of design appraisal tools;

•  a database of schools from which governors and headteachers can identify and visit examples of good design, build and operation;

•  emerging risks, so that they can be pre-empted or managed appropriately; and

•  a specification of requirements for building surveys in relation to schools that are to be refurbished.

6.  Develop an evaluation template for retrospectively assessing the success of PFI schemes, along with other major investments in the school stock.

7.  Review how best to match the increasing legal and financial expertise of private negotiating teams so that LEAs can come to the table on an equal knowledge footing.