ESFA Update: local authorities 10 June 2020
Updated 10 June 2020
Applies to England
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1. Latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Department for Education 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: keeping children safe in education during the COVID-19 pandemic
We want schools and colleges to be able to focus their efforts on responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. As such, the 2020 Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) consultation which was suspended on 31 March 2020 has been withdrawn.
The majority of the revisions have been withdrawn to be reconsidered for future updates in a full public consultation, the timing of which we will confirm later this year.
There are a small number of revisions that we will still make. These fall into three categories:
- those that reflect legislative changes and as such are essential to ensure the guidance remains accurate
- those that provide additional helpful support and information, such as on mental health and children in need
- important clarifications which will help the sector better understand and/or follow our guidance
We plan to publish revised KCSIE guidance for information in June 2020, to come into force on 1 September 2020.
We will continue to support schools and colleges to keep their children safe during this pandemic. To help do this the we have issued non-statutory interim guidance: coronavirus (COVID-19): safeguarding in schools, colleges and other providers. The guidance supports governing bodies, proprietors, senior leadership teams and designated safeguarding leads so they can continue to have appropriate regard to KCSIE and keep their children safe. It also suggests where schools and colleges might consider safeguarding policy and process differently when compared to business as usual. This guidance is under constant review and was most recently updated on 20 May 2020 to reflect what schools and colleges should consider as more children return to school and college.
It should be noted that while Ofsted’s routine school and college inspections are currently suspended to enable leaders to focus on responding to coronavirus, Ofsted retains the power to inspect state-funded schools and colleges if it has significant concerns about safeguarding. The Department for Education also retains the power to commission Ofsted or the Independent Schools Inspectorate (as appropriate) to inspect independent schools if it has significant concerns about safeguarding.
Schools and colleges should also continue to consider and make referrals to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) as per paragraph 166 of KCSIE and the TRA’s advice for making a referral. During the coronavirus period all referrals should be made by emailing misconduct.teacher@education.gov.uk. All referrals received by the TRA will continue to be considered.
3. Information: updated apprenticeships performance-management rules for training providers
We have now published an updated version of the apprenticeship performance-management rules for training providers. This document has been updated to cover apprenticeship non-levy extensions from 1 April 2020.
When allocations were issued we committed to review allocations using R09 data (April data submitted in May) to make sure they were set at the right level to fund all carry-in learners. We know that not all providers were able to submit full R09 data so will postpone this review for now. We will communicate more information shortly.
These performance-management rules should be read alongside the relevant funding rules.
If you have any queries, please contact us using our ESFA online form.
4. Information: update to the advanced learner loans funding rules 2020 to 2021
We have published version 1 of the advanced learner loans funding and performance management rules 2020 to 2021.
The main change from the draft, published in April 2020, is the inclusion of the performance management rules which have been revised for 2020 to 2021.
The rules apply to all providers of education and training holding a loan facility condition and loans bursary fund agreement with ESFA.
5. Information: update to the Advanced Learner Loans funding rules 2020 to 2021
We have published version 1 of the Advanced Learner Loans funding and performance management rules 2020 to 2021.
The main change from the draft, published in April 2020, is the inclusion of the performance management rules which have been revised for 2020 to 2021.
The rules apply to all providers of education and training holding a loan facility condition and loans bursary fund agreement with ESFA.
6. Information: Advanced Learner Loans – launch of the 2020 to 2021 application service
The 2020 to 2021 Advanced Learner Loans application service will open on Monday 15 June 2020 for learners who wish to start eligible qualifications from 1 August 2020 funded with a loan.
7. Information: new Advanced Learner Loans funding letter templates
We have updated the learning and funding information letters for 2020 to 2021. You must issue these to learners, including for offenders in custody, who are considering funding their qualification with a loan. We have also published guidance on how to complete the letters.