Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 11 September 2019

Published 11 September 2019

This correspondence was withdrawn on 21 December 2020

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. Find the latest information from ESFA in the latest ESFA Update.

Applies to England

1. Information: schools funding arrangements for 2020 to 2021

On Monday 9 September, Minister Gibb made a ministerial statement setting out the key aspects of the funding arrangements for schools and high needs for 2020 to 2021.

This statement included reference to the launch of the consultation about the implementation of the mandatory minimum per pupil funding levels.

We have written to our contacts at local authorities with the detail of the announcement to allow them to progress their planning. We will publish the schools operational guide by Friday 13 September and the high needs operational guide by early October.

We have also published information on 16 to 19 funding following the Chancellor’s announcement. This will be of interest to local authorities with 16 to 19 provision.

2. Reminder: financial transparency of local authority maintained schools and academy trusts

On 17 July 2019, the Department for Education (DfE) published a consultation containing proposals across the local authority maintained school sector that aim to improve transparency, whilst also providing insight into the ways in which DfE could help local authorities and schools.

This is a reminder that you have until 30 September 2019 to respond to the financial transparency of local authority maintained schools and academy trusts consultation. Please also ensure that your maintained schools are reminded of this deadline.

3. Information: schools financial value standard

We have updated the schools financial value standard (SFVS) for 2019 to 2020.

The RAG ratings in the dashboard have been updated to reflect the latest data and the recent pay award and pensions contribution changes.

We have improved the layout of the dashboard so that schools can see which type of schools they are being compared to. We have also added some extra functions to make the tool easier to use.

Schools must complete both the checklist and dashboard for their 2019 to 2020 return.

4. Information: Keeping Children Safe in Education 2019

On 2 September, Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2019 came into force.

Schools and colleges must have regard to it. This version replaces both KCSIE 2018 and the ‘for information’ version published on 26 June 2019.

The changes are of a largely factual and technical nature and includes new content on:

• serious violence,
• upskirting (now a criminal offence),
• a link to the departmental advice supporting schools to teach pupils how to stay safe online

A full breakdown of the changes are included at Annex H of the guidance.

Schools and colleges should note that since the publication of the ‘for information’ version a change has been made to ensure KCSIE is up to date. Paragraph 79 has been updated to include advice about the sharing of pupils’ education data where the serious harm test is met.

5. Information: child on child sexual violence and sexual harassment

Schools and colleges are reminded to have regard to part 5 of the Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance. It covers managing reports of child on child sexual violence and sexual harassment. Children can sexually abuse other children and it doesn’t only happen in secondary schools; it can take place in primary schools too.

Child on child sexual violence and sexual harassment exists in many forms, from calling someone sexualised names, flicking bra straps, lifting up skirts, grabbing bottoms, breasts and genitalia to sexual assault and rape. Sexual violence and sexual harassment is not acceptable, it should never be tolerated and should never be seen as an inevitable part of growing up.

Detailed advice is available to support schools and colleges understand, prevent and respond to reports of child on child sexual violence and sexual harassment.