ESFA Update further education: 11 August 2021
Published 11 August 2021
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2021
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-11-august-2021/esfa-update-further-education-11-august-2021
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. Reminder: Post 16 funding from ESFA 2020 to 2021 Chief Finance Officers Certification
On 2 July 2021 we wrote to you about our requirement for the authorities’ Chief Finance Officers Certification regarding ESFA’s Post 16 funding received by the local authority for 2020 to 2021 financial year.
The deadline for this return was 31 July 2021.
If you haven’t submitted your return, please ensure it is submitted as soon as possible. This return forms the basis of ESFAs assurance to the NAO.
2.1 Submit your return
The local authority should return the ‘CFO/202021cert’, return to academiesfinancialmonitoring.efa@education.gov.uk
3. Information: Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers: market entry process for critical worker-linked provision closes on 15 August 2021
At present, the Register of Apprenticeship Training Providers (Register) is open only to providers that meet the critical worker-linked eligibility criteria. We have previously signalled that we will keep this approach to targeted entry to the Register under review during the pandemic and include any changes to the definition of, or focus on, ‘critical workers’ if they arise.
As COVID-19 restrictions have now been lifted, the market entry process for critical worker-linked provisions will cease for all new applications on 15 August 2021. If you have been successful in proving you meet the critical worker-linked eligibility criteria prior to that date and have been given an application deadline to submit your full application that is later than 15 August 2021, that later deadline remains in place.
From 16 August 2021, the Register will be open only to new providers that are able to fulfil a gap in provision identified by unmet employer demand. Full details on this new process will be shared on GOV.UK from 16 August 2021.
4. Information: outcome of consultation on arrangements for the assessment and awarding of vocational, technical, and other general qualifications in 2021 to 2022
The Department for Education (DfE) has published its response to the consultation on the arrangements for the assessment and awarding of VTQs and other general qualifications in the academic year 2021 to 2022.
DfE has confirmed its policy position that exams and other assessments should go ahead in academic year 2021 to 2022. DfE has also confirmed the permitted scope of adaptations for VTQs included in performance tables, FSQs and T Levels.
Ofqual will therefore withdraw the Category B qualification classification in the vocational and technical qualifications contingency regulatory framework (VCRF) from 1 September 2021 so that all qualifications will be awarded based on evidence from exams and other assessments, not Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs). Awarding organisations will however be permitted to make adaptations to their assessments and qualifications to assist in mitigating the ongoing impact of the pandemic.
Read the full outcome on GOV.UK.
5. Information: claiming learner support for procured adult education budget (AEB) and 19 to 24 traineeships
As published in the AEB funding and performance management rules 2021 to 2022 from 1 August 2021, the claim process for learning support has changed for the following funding streams:
- learner support for ESFA AEB procured (adult skills)
- learner support for ESFA 19 to 24 traineeships contract for services (2020 procurement)
You must claim the support through the earnings adjustment statement (EAS). We will pay learner support based on your actual delivery using the latest validated EAS data you provide.
Your funding agreement will show learner support as a separate value, however it forms part of your overall ESFA funded AEB contract for service and we will not manage it separately. We will monitor the amount of funding you spend on support costs and may request additional evidence.
If you have any queries, please contact the Service Desk or your Territorial team.