Guidance

EFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges and other 16 to 19 providers: 3 April 2014

Updated 8 April 2014

This guidance was withdrawn on

This is an old edition of the EFA e-bulletin, so has been archived. Please view our most recent e-bulletins and web pages for up-to-date information.

© Crown copyright 2014

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/efa-e-bulletin-3-april-2014/efa-e-bulletin-for-schools-colleges-and-other-16-to-19-providers-3-april-2014

1. Action: Local authorities – submit your grant returns by 30 April

Local authorities are required to submit grant returns and use of funds statements for 2013 to 2014 to EFA by 30 April 2014.

You will need to use the published templates and submit your returns as signed PDFs to EFA external assurance.

You will need to submit a further return by 31 October 2014 and EFA will publish guidance on this by September 2014.

EFA post-16 assurance

2. Information: 16 to 19 allocations

In the last week of March EFA sent out allocation statements for 2014 to 2015 to around 2,800 institutions in receipt of EFA 16 to 19 funding. The allocation statements were accompanied by explanatory notes setting out how the calculations have been applied. This follows confirmation of the funding rates for 2014 to 2015 and other decisions as set out in EFA National Director for Young People Peter Mucklow’s letter of 18 March 2014.

Allocation summaries for maintained schools with 16 to 19 students have been sent to local authorities. EFA is also providing local authorities with a summary of the funded 16 to 19 student numbers for all institutions in their area to support their responsibilities in relation to the raising of the participation age (RPA). Any queries on the allocations can be raised with us through the normal email addresses.

EFA questions

For schools, local authorities, other education institutions and providers, accountants, auditors and other professional advisers with queries for the Education Funding Agency

16 to 19 providers - northern territory

For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in north west, north east and Yorkshire and the Humber with queries for the Education Funding Agency

16 to 19 providers - central and south west territory

For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in south west, west midlands and east midlands with queries for the Education Funding Agency

16 to 19 providers - southern territory

For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in south east, east of England and London with queries for the Education Funding Agency

3. Information: Local authorities’ schools block funding formula for 2014 to 2015

EFA has published a data file and an analysis of local authorities’ schools block funding formula for 2014 to 2015.

4. Information: Secretary of State approved list of independent special schools and special post-16 institutions - application process

The Children and Families Act 2014 will improve services for children and families. Section 41 of the act allows the Secretary of State to create a list of approved independent special institutions for the purposes of satisfying Section 38 (preparation of an education, health and care plan by local authorities) of the act.

The guidance and supporting information was published on Friday 4 April. It includes an online application form and process setting out how independent education institutions, independent special schools and special post-16 institutions can apply for inclusion on the Secretary of State’s approved list.

5. Information: Future of apprenticeships in England consultation

The government wants to know your views on issuing funding for apprenticeships directly to employers. It wants the standards of all apprenticeships to be raised to the level of the best, by making them more rigorous and more responsive to the needs of employers, so they can grow and compete.

The consultation closes on 1 May 2014.

6. Reminder: Registration required for FE ILR data collections

The Skills Funding Agency’s new Hub brings together a number of business systems currently existing independently from one another.

To submit your ILR returns on the hub your provider authoriser (previously known as your super user) will need to ensure your users have access and permissions.

Further information, training materials and support are available on GOV.UK. Technical support can be found via the Skills Funding Agency Data Service web pages.

7. Information: National Audit Office study on intervention and support for schools

A National Audit Office (NAO) survey for a value-for-money study on the Department for Education’s oversight of school performance is open until 30 April 2014.

The government has announced copyright licence deals for schools.

Back to top