ESFA Update further education: 10 August 2022
Published 10 August 2022
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2022
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-10-august-2022/esfa-update-further-education-10-august-2022
1. Action: how to claim exceptional learning support (ELS) for 2022 to 2023
We have published the ELS guidance and cost form for academic year 2022 to 2023. You must complete the form for each ESFA learner whose learning support costs exceed £19,000 for:
- learners aged 19 and over with an identified learning difficulty and/or disability (LDD) without an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- all age apprentices that have an identified LDD and are with or without an EHC plan
- advanced loans-funded learners with an identified LDD without an EHC plan as part of the Advanced Learner Loans bursary fund
Please submit the estimated ELS cost at the beginning of a learner’s programme using Document Exchange. You must select ‘Exceptional Learner Support’ as the document’s purpose.
Please contact your Mayoral Combined Authority or the Greater London Authority for support funding for learners funded through devolved AEB arrangements, as referenced in the adult education budget (AEB) funding rules 2022 to 2023.
If you have any questions after reading our guidance please use our enquiry form.
2. Information: update on 2022 to 2023 ILR data collection systems and software
Submit Learner Data will open for 2022 to 2023 Individualised Learner Record (ILR) data collections on 15 August.
ESFA’s various software applications and guidance documents for 2022 to 2023 are also available, including:
- the 2022 to 2023 ILR specification, appendices and the provider support manual.
- the Funding Information Service (FIS) tool and its user guide and release notes. Providers can use FIS to validate ILR data.
- the Learner Entry Tool (LET) and its user guide and known issues. LET enables smaller providers, without a data management system, to create ILR files.
- the ILR FileMerge Tool and its user guide and known issues. FileMerge combines multiple ILR .xml files into a single file.
3. Information: training provider banned after joint investigation between the Insolvency Service and ESFA
We are pleased to note the success of our new joint working between the Insolvency Service and ESFA. It is important that we continue to work with regulatory partners, across government, to ensure we take robust action and hold those to account, who misuse public funds.
You can read the full press release on GOV.UK.
4. Information: portable flexi-job apprenticeship pilot scheme
In April 2022, we launched a pilot programme to trial portable flexi-job apprenticeships. Portable flexi-job apprenticeships put apprentices in the driving seat, and enable them to complete their apprenticeship across multiple short employment contracts.
Now that the first wave of the pilot programme is live, we are opening a second expression of interest, as outlined in the pilot plan, to expand the offer and allow additional providers to get involved. We invite providers to submit an application to engage in the pilot to test an exciting new model of apprenticeship delivery and support ongoing developments in the apprenticeship programme.
As part of this expression of interest, we are also inviting providers to apply to add new standards to the pilot programme.
Providers must be on the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers to apply.
The expression of interest launched on 5 August 2022 and will close on 30 September 2022.
The expression of interest and further details about portable flexi-job apprenticeships can be found on Jaggaer.
5. Information: high needs funding: 2023 to 2024 operational guidance and special free schools adjustment - a guide for local authorities
Following the national funding formula for schools and high needs announcement on 19 July, we have published the 2023 to 2024 high needs operational guidance and the special free schools adjustment: a guide for local authorities .
We have also updated the local authority disapplication request proforma to include:
- block movement requests
- a best practice tab for general and high needs requests
- a specific section for special schools minimum funding guarantee requests
You can view the NFF policy document and 2023 to 2024 allocations and accompanying technical notes.
If you have any queries, please contact us via our ESFA enquiry form.
6. Information: local authority high needs funding: 2022 to 2023 operational guide survey
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who participated and contributed to the recent local authority high needs funding: 2022 to 2023 operational guide survey.
The views of our audience are important to us in helping to improve the content and accessibility of our publications.
We will continue to review feedback and make improvements in future publications and updates.