ESFA Update academies: 12 February 2020
Published 12 February 2020
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2020
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1. Information: academy general annual grant allocations guides for 2020 to 2021
We’ve published the academy general annual grant allocation guides for the 2020 to 2021 academic year for mainstream academies, free schools, UTC’s and studio schools, special and alternative provision academies and special free schools. This guidance is for academies that were open before 1 April 2020.
We’ll begin issuing 2020 to 2021 general annual grant allocation statements towards the end of February 2020. We expect to issue all allocation statements to academies that opened before or on 1 January 2020 by the end of March 2020.
Allocations for 2020 to 2021 for February and March 2020 opening academies will be issued by the end of April 2020.
We’ll upload allocation statements to the ‘revenue funding’ folder (2020/21) in the Document Exchange section of Information Exchange. We encourage you to check your access to Document Exchange so that you’re able to view your statement as soon as it becomes available. For support and guidance about Information Exchange, please visit our support page.
Each academy’s statement will be uploaded as soon as it’s finalised following confirmation of the relevant local authority’s funding formula. Multi-academy trusts should note that this means allocation statements for all academies in the trust might not be uploaded at the same time.
2. Information: update to funding regulations for post-16 provision
We have made a minor update to the funding regulations for post-16 provision for academic year 2019 to 2020. The changes clarify advice in paragraphs 31, 64, 67 and 53. We have also added an additional Q&A scenario to annex C. All changes are listed in the ‘What’s new?’ section.
We have also made a minor update to the ILR funding returns guide for 2019 to 2020. This clarifies advice in paragraph 48.
3. Information: Budget Forecast Return Outturn
The release and submission dates of the Budget Forecast Return Outturn (BFRO) are as follows:
- go live date - 21 April 2020
- deadline for completion and submission - 19 May 2020
The form remains largely unchanged from last year. The guidance and Excel workbook, to help with completion of the BFRO, will be made available at the end of March. Details of the form, including the link when it goes live, are on our guidance page.
Please note that this form is within scope of the policy of naming academy trusts who are late in submitting two or more returns in an academic year.
Please also note that we have ceased collection of the In-Year BFR Financial Return for new academies; these details are now collected on the next BFRO or BFR three-year form.
If you have any questions about the form when it is live then please contact us using our online enquiry form.
4. Information: Early Years Foundation Stage reforms – early adopters sign-up closes Friday 14 February 2020
On Monday 20 January 2020 we invited all primary and infant schools and academies to voluntarily implement the forthcoming reforms to the Early Years Foundation Stage a year early in the academic year 2020 to 2021.
We are inviting schools to participate at this early stage so that you have the necessary time to consider and prepare for early adoption, and so that the government can be ready to support early adopters once final policy decisions have been made following the conclusion of the consultation. To sign up as an ‘early adopter’ please complete a short survey by Friday 14 February 2020.
For more information on the early adopter year please contact EYFSReforms.EarlyAdopters@education.gov.uk.
5. Information: are you looking to upgrade or replace your school’s heating system?
On 28 January 2020 a new heating and renewables framework designed specifically for the education sector was launched.
Recommended by the Department for Education (DfE), Fusion 21 Lot 10 education specific delivers a quick and easy option that will save money on your energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.
To save your time, Fusion 21 will undertake all the procurement on your behalf - contact Fusion 21.
Financial support could be available, check out interest free energy saving loans to fund energy savings schemes from Salix.
6. Information: RPA members: criminal liability and risk assessment workshops
Willis Towers Watson provides risk management support for all risk protection arrangement (RPA) members through audit, guidance and advice.
As part of the risk management support, RPA members are invited to a workshop covering:
- criminal liability for health and safety offences (financial and penal) and the increases in potential fines as a result of changes to sentencing guidelines
- effective risk assessment to ensure compliance with the requirements within the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations.
| Dates | Location |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 3 March 2020 | Business Central Darlington, 2 Union Square, Central Park, Darlington, DL1 1GL |
| Thursday 5 March 2020 | University Conferences, Howard Street, Sheffield, S1 1WB |
| Wednesday 11 March 2020 | Greater Manchester, Chamber of Commerce, Elliot House, 151 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3WD |
| Thursday 12 March 2020 | The Tamburlaine Hotel, Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2FB |
| Tuesday 17 March 2020 | Willis Towers Watson, 3 Temple Quay, Temple Back East, Bristol, BS1 6DZ |
| Monday 23 March 2020 | Ramada Hotel, The Butts, Coventry CV1 3GG |
| Thursday 26 March 2020 | Willis Towers Watson, 51 Lime St, London EC3M 7DQ. |
To book your place(s) please email academies.rpa@education.gov.uk stating RPA Workshop March 2020 in the subject field and provide:
- your venue choice
- academy name and URN
- names of attendee(s)