ESFA Update further education: 11 November 2020
Published 11 November 2020
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2020
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-11-november-2020/esfa-update-further-education-11-november-2020
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.
There is also guidance on the apprenticeship service about COVID-19.
Please check GOV.UK regularly for updates.
2. Information: Exam Support Service – functional skills qualifications (FSQs) apprenticeships
Due to ongoing disruptions to FSQ assessments we are pleased to confirm that the DfE Exam Support Service has been extended to include FSQs in apprenticeships, where assessments were planned to be delivered in the workplace. We recognise that these challenging times, in some cases, make it difficult for apprentices to access an FSQ test.
The COVID guidance confirms that travel for education, training and assessment is allowable under current restrictions. Apprenticeship training providers will be able to access the service to book sites and invigilators for FSQ assessments and claim eligible costs.
To be eligible, the apprentice must:
- have been expecting to take their FSQ assessment in the workplace
- have a planned end date between 1 August – 31 December 2020
- not be otherwise able to access an FSQ assessment
The Exam Support Service guidance will be updated in November to include FSQ. This will also include full eligibility details and the process for making a claim.
3. Information: next stage of post-16 qualifications overhaul gets under way
As part of the review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below in England, we have launched a call for evidence on post-16 level 2 and below study and qualifications.
To help us develop detailed proposals on post-16 level 2 and below study, we want to know more about what is working and what more it needs to do to support 16 to 19 year olds and adults. We want all students to be confident that whatever option they choose will be high quality, valued by employers and will lead to an apprenticeship, further study or a great job.
Anyone with an interest in post-16 education and training at level 2 and below for young people and adults in England is encouraged to submit evidence.
The deadline for submissions is 31 January 2021.
This follows the second stage consultation of post-16 qualifications at level 3 which focuses on level 3 qualifications and seeks views on our proposals for the groups of qualifications that would continue to be funded alongside A levels and T Levels. The consultation closes on 15 January 2021.
4. Information: monitoring post-16 funding
We have published the final reports for the 2019 to 2020 funding year in Submit learner data.
We have also released a new post-16 monitoring reports dashboard containing this information in View your education data. This is a preview of the new format we will use for 2020 to 2021 onwards for you to review and leave feedback on. This will help us develop the product further before we publish 2020 to 2021 data at R04.
We have published a user guide to support the dashboard. The user guide explains how to access and navigate the dashboard, with details of how you can export all of your data in a single file for importing into your own systems. It summarises the reports that support financial assurance: monitoring the funding rules for post-16 funding for 2020 to 2021, including the actions you need to take and what we will do to assure funding.
If you need any further support, please submit an enquiry.
5. Information: guidance for the delivery and application of industry placements – Capacity and Delivery Fund (CDF) from the 2021 to 2022 academic year
We have published guidance for delivery and new funding applications for industry placements – Capacity and Delivery Fund (CDF) from the 2021 to 2022 academic year.
CDF was introduced to support providers to build capacity for the delivery of T Level style industry placements. As T Level delivery increases over the next three years, industry placements delivered through CDF will be phased out. CDF will continue to support both level 2 and level 3 industry placements but at a reduced funding rate per qualifying student. The guidance explains in full the changes for both the 2021 to 2022 academic year and how and when the fund will be wound down.
The guidance also includes information on how to apply for CDF for 2021 to 2022 academic year. Providers can now apply for CDF with no minimum Ofsted grade threshold. This will enable those providers currently not in receipt of CDF and who intend to deliver T Levels in the future to build their capacity and capability in readiness.
6. Information: the beta version of the cross year indicative payments reports has launched
We have published a new beta funding report at R03 to help you understand your apprenticeship payments from August to November whilst both the 2019 to 2020 and 2020 to 2021 ILR funding years were open.
This beta report uses the payments from your existing funding summary reports to indicate the funding you should see on your remittance advice for your non-levy procured apprenticeships and for your apprenticeships where the employer is on the Apprenticeship Service. For your non-levy procured contracts, this report also shows the amount of capping that we may have applied.
You can find this report in your period end reports folder, with the submission history section on Submit learner data.
For further information and queries please use the ESFA enquiry form.
7. Information: the National Careers Service Virtual Jobs Fair returns 13 to 20 November
The National Careers Service Virtual Jobs Fair returns 13 to 20 November. The Virtual Jobs Fair will travel round different regions and give people the opportunity to see vacancies in their area and get the help they need to apply.
The event will feature webinars and workshops, delivered by local careers advisers, giving the tools and techniques to succeed such as help to create winning CVs or how to prepare for interviews.
Follow our social media channels @NationalCareers and NationalCareersService to find out more, or register here to access the event for free.
The timetable for the Virtual Jobs Fair this November.
| Location | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| North West | Friday 13 November | 1pm to 4pm |
| London | Monday 16 November | 9am to 12pm |
| South West and Oxfordshire | Monday 16 November | 1pm to 4pm |
| East of England and Buckinghamshire | Tuesday 17 November | 9am to 12pm |
| Yorkshire and Humber | Tuesday 17 November | 1pm to 4pm |
| East Midlands and Northamptonshire | Wednesday 18 November | 9am to 12am |
| North East and Cumbria | Thursday 19 November | 9am to 12pm |
| West Midlands and Staffordshire | Thursday 19 November | 1pm to 4pm |
| South East | Friday 20 November | 9am to 12pm |
8. Information: campaign to recruit next Further Education Commissioner – deadline for applications 20 November
The FE Commissioner works with colleges to improve the quality of education for learners, strengthen financial resilience, improve the quality of leadership and reduce the risk of colleges requiring interventions. More details and how to apply are available online.
We’ve also launched a campaign to recruit six more FE Advisers to the FE Commissioner’s team – these are finance and/or curriculum and quality specialists with a deep understanding of the sector, who support the FE Commissioner in his work. Further details, including an application pack, are available online.