ESFA Update further education: 11 May 2022
Published 11 May 2022
Applies to England
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1. Action: the coronavirus (COVID19) 16 to 19 tuition fund 2022 to 2023 claim form
The coronavirus (COVID19) 16 to 19 tuition fund 2022 to 2023 form is now live.
The deadline for your submission is 11:59pm on Friday, 27 May 2022.
We’ve published guidance to help you access and complete the form.
You can read more at in the coronavirus (COVID-19) 16 to 19 tuition fund guidance 2022 to 2023.
2. Reminder: the coronavirus (COVID-19) workforce fund claim form is open
Eligible schools and colleges can now submit a claim for the cost of absences over a threshold experienced between Monday 22 November 2021 to Friday 8 April 2022.
We have published guidance on how to complete the claim form.
The deadline for submitting a claim is 11:59pm on Tuesday, 24 May.
Further information on the COVID-19 workforce fund is available in our guidance for schools and colleges.
3. Information: apprenticeship training provider accountability framework 2021 to 2022
We have updated the apprenticeship accountability framework technical specification 2021 to 2022 to provide further information about the thresholds for off the job training (OTJT), achievement rates and retention rates that form part of the accountability framework.
The apprenticeship training provider accountability framework came into force in September 2021. The Framework is a new, more timely approach to accountability for apprenticeship training providers, based on a wider range of quality metrics.
The apprenticeship accountability framework technical specification 2021 to 2022 outlines the quality indicators that form part of the apprenticeship accountability framework and how we will apply them for this first year. It has been updated to include information about the thresholds for OTJT, achievement rates and retention rates. In response to feedback from training providers, we have also amended the thresholds for withdrawals, learners past planned end date and breaks in learning for providers that fall into the “needs improvement” category.
The thresholds included in the framework are not targets for the apprenticeships programme and should not be used by providers as targets to benchmark their provision against. Instead, these thresholds reflect minimum expectations and will be used to inform any intervention actions we take in response to concerns about the quality of delivery at a provider. As such, the thresholds do not reflect our ambition to ensure that all apprenticeship provision is high quality and meets the needs of employers.
4. Information: Adult education budget (AEB) funding rules update: Ukrainian Extension Scheme
All Ukrainian adults and their family members supported through the Ukraine Extension Scheme are immediately eligible for further education 19+ funding and are exempt from the 3-year residency requirement as per the current AEB funding rules.
Those individuals and their family members who had permission to stay in the UK on or before 18 March 2022 can apply for the Ukraine Extension scheme.
If you have any questions, please contact us using our enquiry form.
5. Information: promote adult numeracy courses on National Numeracy Day
Next Wednesday, 18 May, is National Numeracy Day, run by the charity National Numeracy to encourage both adults and children to feel comfortable with numbers. This is a great opportunity to promote your adult numeracy courses across your networks. National Numeracy has lots of resources to help, sign up to get your free digital pack of materials and resources.
For background, about half of the working-age population (17m) have the numeracy skills of a primary school child which can hold people back from having the confidence to get on in life and into work. Those who improve their numeracy skills are more likely to be in employment and have higher wages.
Many FE providers are likely to become involved in Improving adult numeracy through the recently launched Multiply programme. Backed by £559m across the UK, Multiply will offer adults who do not already have a GCSE grade C/4 or higher in Maths or equivalent, and need to improve their numeracy, free flexible courses that fit around their lives. Upper-tier local authorities recently received a prospectus and funding allocation to specify Multiply courses in their areas, which are expected to start going live in the autumn.
6. Information: sustainability and climate change strategy published
The Department for Education (DfE) has launched its sustainability and climate change strategy, which aims to empower pupils and educators to fight climate change.
Key action areas include increasing opportunities for young people to learn from and connect with nature, driving climate education and green skills, decarbonising school buildings and making them more climate resilient, and increasing the sustainability of operations and supply chains in education settings.
We will share best practice and advice to help education settings reduce carbon emissions, improve sustainability and resilience, and incorporate a holistic approach to sustainability overall. We will support education settings to put in place climate action plans and will roll out carbon literacy training for at least one person in every locally maintained nursery, state-funded school, and college.
We will support the further and higher education sectors as they deliver programmes teaching the skills of the future and provide support and guidance for green careers.
Read the sustainability and climate change strategy on GOV.UK.
7. Information: IFATE apprentice panel recruitment
Recruitment to join the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education apprentice panel closes at midnight Monday 16 May 2022.
The main purpose of the apprentice panel is to ensure the views of apprentices are represented across the work and governance of the Institute. The panel decides which issues to focus on, and panel representatives attend Institute board meetings to advise and challenge on those issues. They also meet regularly with ministers and other government officials to ensure the apprentice experience is front and centre of new policy thinking.
To apply, apprentices need to complete the expression of interest form and upload a copy of their CV.