ESFA Update academies: 13 January 2021
Published 13 January 2021
Applies to England
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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: academies land and buildings collection tool (LBCT) deadline
Thank you to those trusts who have already submitted their land and buildings collection tool (LBCT) return.
For everyone else, this a reminder that the deadline for submission is Thursday 28 January 2021.
The return must be completed by all academy trusts with at least one open academy on 31 August 2020.
You can find guidance, the optional LBCT workbook and a link to the online form on our LBCT GOV.UK webpage.
The GOV.UK page has details of the regular Microsoft Teams calls for all LBCT form users throughout the collection period. The next one is Thursday 14 January from 10:30am to 11am.
3. Information: deadline reminder for alternative provision (AP) free schools
The deadline for AP free schools (or their trusts) to submit their completed high needs place number review templates is this Friday, 15 January 2021.
If you have any difficulty submitting your 2021 to 2022 requested place numbers and supporting evidence, please contact us using the online enquiry form.
When we review your request, we may contact you for more information. We will also write to you by early February with the outcome of our review. It’s therefore important that we have the right contact details for you. If you need to update your contact details, please let us know using the online enquiry form.
4. Information: funded training in school resource management
The Department for Education has funded webinars to help schools, trusts and local authorities plan for the future and ensure long term financial sustainability.
Focusing on resource management and integrated curriculum and financial planning (ICFP), delegates will receive the knowledge and tools they need to quantify areas of inefficiency, diagnose the causes and ensure effective use of resources.
The webinars will be delivered by Entrust Support Services from now until March 2021.
Full details of the training and how to book can be found on the Entrust School Resource Management portal.
5. Information: Operation Encompass Teachers’ Helpline for children affected by domestic abuse - extended operating hours
The Operation Encompass Teachers Helpline, funded by Home Office and the Department for Education, has extended its operating hours from Monday 4 January. It is now available Monday to Friday from 8am to 1pm throughout term-time, including during lockdown restrictions and is available for all staff in educational settings.
The Helpline allows staff to speak in confidence with an educational psychologist about how best to support children experiencing domestic abuse.
More resources are available from the Operation Encompass website, including further information about the Helpline and a Handbook for Schools, which provides information about the impact of domestic abuse on children and advice on how to support them.
6. Information: violence against women and girls – call for evidence launched
The Home Office have launched a call for evidence to inform the development of the government’s next Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy. Views are sought from those with lived experience of harm as well as those with expertise in working with victims and survivors, those involved in preventative activity, and those involved in providing services. This includes relevant professionals, such as those working in social care, education, law enforcement, local government, public health and healthcare.
Everyone aged 16 or over is welcome to contribute to the call for evidence, you do not have to have experienced violence or abuse to take part. The closing date for the call for evidence is 19 February 2021. You can participate in the call for evidence by completing the public survey or by providing a written submission. Further information is available on GOV.UK.