EFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges, local authorities and other 16 to 19 providers: 9 March 2017
Published 9 March 2017
© Crown copyright 2017
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/efa-e-bulletin-9-march-2017-issue-165/efa-e-bulletin-for-schools-colleges-local-authorities-and-other-16-to-19-providers-9-march-2017
1. Information: allocation calculation toolkits for schools and academies
We’ve identified a presentation issue affecting post-16 allocation calculation toolkits (ACT) for schools and academies.
Some records in the ‘Aims’ sheet of the toolkit have been duplicated. This does not affect any of the funding calculations or the recently issued funding allocations. We expect to re-issue the toolkits affected via EFA Information Exchange by 15 March.
All revised ACT files will be located in EFA Information Exchange. These can be found in the Document Exchange ‘revenue funding’ folder, under ‘AY 2017-18 (2017/18)’. The new file will replace the existing ACT in Document Exchange.
We apologise for any inconvenience this issue may have caused.
If you experience problems accessing EFA Information Exchange, please visit our support page.
2. Information: college accounts direction
We’ve updated the college accounts direction for 2016 to 2017.
The accounts direction sets out the financial reporting requirements for sixth-form and further education colleges.
3. Information: post-16 audit code of practice
We’ve updated the post-16 audit code of practice for 2016 to 2017.
The audit code sets out a common standard for the provision of assurance in relation to funding of post-16 providers.
We’ll publish the regularity self-assessment questionnaire as a separate document in due course.
4. Information: high needs strategic planning fund
We paid the high needs strategic planning fund of £23 million to local authorities in January 2017. We’ve made a benchmarking tool available to compare high needs spending and provision in local authority areas.
We’ve also published local authority allocations of the £215 million special provision capital fund.
5. Information: updated high needs funding operational guide 2017 to 2018
We’ve updated the high needs funding operational guide for 2017 to 2018.
This version includes:
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a new section with information about the high needs strategic review and planning we expect local authorities to undertake for 2018 to 2019
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information on the funding we are making available to support this work
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links to the recently published school and early years finance (England) regulations 2017
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an update to section 2 on the 2017 to 2018 place change notification process, which has now closed
6. Action: section 251 budget data collection for 2017 to 2018
We’ve published guidance to help local authorities prepare and submit their section 251 budget statement for the 2017 to 2018 financial year.
Local authorities are required to submit their budget data by 31 March 2017.
7. Information: local authority recoupment 2017 to 2018
We’ve published guidance for local authorities on the recoupment calculation for 2017 to 2018. The guidance describes the implementation of the policy announced in December 2016 to recoup for new free schools from the date of opening.
We’ll update published 2017 to 2018 dedicated schools grant (DSG) allocations before the start of the financial year to include initial recoupment.
If you have any questions please use our online enquiry form.
8. Information: Spanish visitor teacher programme
Do you want students to learn about authentic Spanish culture? Register for this unique opportunity to employ an expert teacher in the Spanish language.
9. Information: Private Finance Initiative (PFI) questionnaire for local authorities
The Department for Education (DfE) has contacted local authorities (LAs) by email with an online survey about Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts.
DfE has sent this email to finance officers in LAs with at least one PFI contract. DfE would like to encourage those that have received the survey to complete this by 24 March 2017. This survey will enable DfE to further develop its understanding of PFI schemes across the country and to identify the main changes that have occurred since 2010.