EFA e-bulletin for academies: 31 July 2014
Published 31 July 2014
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/efa-e-bulletin-31-july-2014/efa-e-bulletin-for-academies-31-july-2014
1. Information: online training for academies on the financial framework
Education Funding Agency (EFA) has published videos of the webinars on the academies financial framework that took place on 15 July. You can also view narrated presentations on the financial framework online.
2. Information: March accounts return validation tests
Deloitte is applying a series of validation tests to academy trusts’ accounts returns to identify errors, and may need to contact academy trusts on EFA’s behalf to resolve queries or ask for more detail.
3. Reminder: budget forecast due 31 July
The deadline for academy trusts open as at 31 March 2014 to submit their budget forecast for the 2014 to 2015 academic year is 31 July 2014.
You can access the online form and guidance for completion online.
EFA’s delivery partner, Deloitte, is currently applying a series of validation tests to academy trusts’ budget forecast returns that were submitted directly to it. Deloitte may need to contact academy trusts on EFA’s behalf to resolve any queries or ask for more detail.
4. Information: schools revenue funding - arrangements for 2015 to 2016
EFA has written a letter on school funding reforms to all academies announcing the rates of the Education Services Grant (ESG) in 2015 to 2016 and summarising the main funding changes for the 2015 to 2016 academic year. There will be a rolling programme of online communications in the autumn to help academies understand the funding changes in more detail.
5. Reminder: national non domestic rates (NNDR) claims
If you have not yet claimed for the 2014 to 2015 financial year, you should submit an online form to EFA to claim funding for national non-domestic rates (NNDR).
6. Information: Education Services Grant (ESG) 2015 to 2016
The Department for Education has published the Education Services Grant: statement of final arrangement for 2015 to 2016 setting out the government’s decisions on the ESG rates and protections for 2015 to 2016.
7. Information: high needs funding arrangements - additional information
EFA has issued a further update to the 16 to 25 high needs funding additional information document, to include details on funding arrangements for the 2015 to 2016 academic year.
The new version lists any significant updates made since the last edition in the introduction pages.
If you have any queries on this document, please contact your EFA territorial mailbox in the usual manner:
16 to 19 providers - northern territory
Contact form https://form.education...
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
Contact form https://form.education...
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
Contact form https://form.education...
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
8. Reminder: restrictions on land transfer
Academies and free schools are required to correctly register all land associated with them, with the land registry.
The requirement is set out at 5.1 of ‘academy and free school: model funding agreements’. Individual funding agreements will vary, but all include a similar clause.
This is a simple and easy process – but important to get right. You may want to check with your solicitors, or you can easily get hold of a copy of your title register via land registry. If your land is not registered or does not include the correct restrictions, you need to apply to the Land Registry using form RX1.
9. Information: new special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice approved by Parliament
Parliament has now approved the new 0 to 25 special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice. The new code is statutory and comes into force in September 2014.
It is essential that governors or trustees, teaching and non-teaching staff, understand what the reforms mean for them. To help you prepare, the Department for Education has developed a presentation pack for school leaders in partnership with the teaching unions.
In addition, the new SEND gateway provides easy access to high quality information and resources to help educational professionals prepare for the reforms.
10. Information: Headteacher Board election results
The Department for Education has announced the results of the Headteacher Board elections. 4 members have been elected in each of the 8 regions to support the Regional Schools Commissioners.