Update: issue 354 (12 April 2017)
Updated 26 April 2017
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2017
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-april-2017/update-issue-354-12-april-2017
1. Procurement for apprenticeship training in smaller employers
Information
We have announced a pause to the current procurement for apprenticeship training provision for non-levy-paying employers.
This will allow us to review our approach to ensure that we achieve the right balance between stability of supply and promoting competition and choice for employers.
In order to maintain stability in the system we will be extending existing contracts held by all current providers until the end of December 2017.
To maintain our quality standards, current providers with extended contracts will be able to undertake new starts on those contracts provided they are on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers.
We will notify providers of specific arrangements shortly so that amended contracts are in place ahead of 1 May.
2. Funding calculation 2016 to 2017: technical document
Information
We will shortly publish the main funding calculation rulebase for the 2016 to 2017 funding year on the funding rates section on GOV.UK.
The document covers how funding is calculated for the adult education budget and apprenticeship frameworks that started before 1 May 2017.
This is a technical document and includes the rulebase (a collection of one or more connected rules) that performs the funding calculation. There is no separate programming code to implement the logic.
Please share this with your data manager and management information system supplier.
For further information, please email the Service Desk.
3. College benchmarking tool
Information
We have published a financial benchmarking tool for colleges.
This tool helps colleges compare their financial performance in 2014 to 2015 and 2015 to 2016 with others in the sector.
4. Issuing certificates for apprenticeship standards: reminder
Information
A reminder that training providers must share accurate and relevant information with Apprentice Assessment Organisations (AAOs) for certification to take place.
Certificates for apprenticeship standards will be requested by AAOs from the ESFA and the ESFA will notify training providers when an apprentice has passed their end-point assessment.
Training providers must record end-point assessment achievements promptly in the individual learner record. Please note that this process only applies to apprenticeship standards.
On 1 January 2017 the Education and Skills Funding Agency took over responsibility for issuing certificates for apprentices achieving an apprenticeship standard.
For further information, please contact your provider manager.
5.European Social Fund: supplementary data guidance
Information
We have updated our published guidance for the supplementary data collection for the European Social Fund (ESF) 2014 to 2020 programme.
The collection is for claiming and adjusting costs not collected through the individualised learner record. This is a technical document and sets out the principles and features of the collection.
Please share this with your data manager and management information system supplier.
For further information, please contact your Education and Skills Funding Agency ESF Management and Delivery Team.
6. Prevent duty compliance workshops for independent training providers and new apprenticeship providers.
Information
The Department for Education is running 3 free workshops on prevent duty compliance, in Manchester, Birmingham and London on the 13, 14, 15 June from 10am to 3pm.
The workshops have been created principally for apprenticeship providers and independent training providers, particularly those new to prevent.
Sessions will provide strategic and practical support for organisations implementing prevent, as well as the opportunity to hear from Ofsted, the Education and Training Foundation and FE/HE prevent coordinators.
For more information, contact E.PREVENT@education.gov.uk.