Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 1 April 2020

Published 1 April 2020

This correspondence was withdrawn on 29 December 2021

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. Read the latest editions of ESFA Update for up to date news and information.

Applies to England

1. Latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Department for Education (DfE) has published guidance about COVID-19 in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students on GOV.UK.

Please check GOV.UK regularly for updates

2. Information: increased fraud risk during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Periods of instability, such as during the coronavirus pandemic, bring an increased risk of fraud. Fraudsters will actively exploit these difficult times and will target vulnerable areas for financial gain.

ActionFraud reported a 400% increase in reports of coronavirus related fraud in March 2020. The reported frauds are varied and include:

• charity fraud
• online shopping fraud
• phishing emails

Further information is available on the ActionFraud website.

Periods of instability lead to increased pressure, which in turn may lead to reduced internal controls and management oversight, making organisations more vulnerable to fraud risks.

During these periods staff wanting to be helpful and flexible when dealing with suppliers can be more susceptible to targeted attacks from fraudsters, particularly around changes to payment details.

Remember, fraudsters can be very convincing, they are used to exploiting organisations and will have prepared thoroughly.

Organisations should continue to follow all business processes and procedures designed to protect them from fraud. Below are some key actions for all organisations during the corona virus pandemic and other periods of instability:

1. Maintain effective governance and financial management and oversight. Periodically remind staff that, despite the instability, the organisation continues to implement and require compliance with internal controls.
2. Maintain strong internal controls and retain and implement clear policies and procedures. Provide further training on these policies and procedures where required.
3. Maintain and promote strong anti-fraud controls. Review internal control risk assessments and fraud risk assessments. Ensure that staff know how to report suspected fraud.
4. Undertake internal audits to monitor internal controls and segregation of duties to ensure they are operating effectively.

2.1 Cybercrime

Cybercrime is an increasing risk to all business, including the education sector, and is a particularly vulnerable area in the current situation. We have published a guide on cybercrime and cyber security to help raise education providers’ awareness.

Further guidance on reducing fraud risks is also available (this was produced for academies but maybe helpful to all organisations).

2.2 Scam alerts

We have been informed that some parents have received an email stating the following: ‘As schools will be closing, if you’re entitled to free school meals, please send your bank details and we’ll make sure you’re supported’.

We can confirm that this is a scam email and is not official. We urge parents that if you receive any emails like this, please do not respond, and delete it immediately.

3. Information: updated 2020 to 2021 dedicated schools grant (DSG) allocations

We have updated the published DSG allocations for 2020 to 2021, to reflect changes in recoupment and high needs place numbers.

More information is available on how we calculate DSG recoupment when maintained schools convert to academy status.

We have also updated the high needs: allocated place numbers for 2020 to 2021.

4. Information: adult allocations for the 2020 to 2021 funding year

ESFA funded adult education budget, 16 to18 traineeships (for providers without 16 to 19 funding) and advanced learner loans allocation statements for the 2020 to 2021 funding year are now available on Manage your education and skills funding (MYESF). We will update our 19+ funding allocations page with more information on how allocations have been calculated shortly.

You need one of the following roles on MYESF to view your allocation statement:

• contract authoriser
• contract manager
• contract user
• data returns and claims authoriser

You can request a new role through the Identity and Access Management Service or by asking your organisation’s super user.

5. Information: local authority allocations summaries for 2020 to 2021

We have uploaded local authority allocation summaries for academic year 2020 to 2021. These can be found on Document Exchange in the revenue funding 2020 to 2021 folder.

Local authorities will receive an allocation summary if they have maintained school sixth forms and/or maintained special schools.

The file details the 16 to 19 funding at school level and an LA total discretionary bursary funding value to support the maintained special schools.

6. Information: local authority student number summaries for 2020 to 2021 available on Document Exchange

We have uploaded local authority student number summaries for academic year 2020 to 2021. These can be found on Document Exchange in the revenue funding 2020 to 2021 folder.

Local authorities will receive an allocation summary if they have 16 to 19 funded institutions in their area.

The file shows the total number of funded students and high needs students to be funded in 2020 to 2021 at all institutions with allocations issued at the time of upload.

7. Information: final qualification achievement rates (QAR) 2018 to 2019

We have published your final QAR 2018 to 2019. All the data is available through:

• the View Your Education Data portal
• the National Achievement Rate Tables

To access the data, please ensure you have the correct IDAMS user access. Please see the IDAMS user guides for creating access or checking your user permissions. 

If you have any questions, please contact us using our online enquiry form.