Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 13 October 2021

Published 13 October 2021

This correspondence was withdrawn on 23 December 2022

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. Read the latest editions of ESFA Update for the latest news and information.

Applies to England

1. Action: Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA) - motor vehicle cover for schools consultation

The Department for Education has launched a public consultation on a proposal to introduce motor cover as part of the RPA.

The RPA provides cover for most risks that schools face, but members currently have to obtain motor cover elsewhere at commercial rates, because third party motor insurance is a legal requirement under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the RPA cover is not insurance.

If the RPA were able to offer motor cover to its member schools, there would be potential to save schools’ money, delivering direct savings on the cost of cover and save schools’ time, as they currently have to provide detailed claims experience to obtain commercial cover.

We welcome the views of stakeholders across the school sector. The consultation closes on 30 November 2021.

2. Action: Sustainability Day for schools hosted by DfE schools commercial team

Join the DfE webinars on 2 November 2021 and find out how we can help you take steps to reduce your schools carbon footprint.

Come along to a variety of procurement sessions from smart meters to water efficiency, heating systems and renewable technology to energy efficiency and ask the experts the questions you may have. 

See the wide range of sessions available and register for free.

For the latest on our wide range of webinars, check out the events tab on our Buying for schools LinkedIn page.

3. Information: High needs funding: due diligence process for special post-16 providers

We have published the high needs funding: due diligence process for special post-16 providers guidance.

This guidance explains the process for special post-16 institutions that may lead to a funding arrangement with the Education Skills and Funding Agency (ESFA) for the 2022 to 2023 academic year.

To be eligible to receive ESFA funding, special post-16 institutions (SPI) are required to be included within their provider LA high needs place change workbook (required by 12 November 2021) and must be named on at least 10 Education Health and Care plans. Subject to meeting this requirement, the ESFA will undertake due diligence to ensure themselves that the SPI is eligible to receive ESFA funding.

Further information is available on GOV.UK.

4. Information: coronavirus (COVID-19) school-led tutoring allocations

We’ve published the school-led tutoring allocations for maintained schools, academies and local authorities. We will also shortly publish a calculation tool which enables eligible schools and academy trusts to track information relating to their allocation during the academic year.

You can read more about school-led tutoring and the National Tutoring Programme.

5. Information: professional development opportunities for leaders, governors, and governance professionals

The Education and Training Foundation is funded by DfE to provide a range of training programmes, mentoring and coaching support for college CEOs, CFOs, Middle Managers, Chairs and Governance Professionals.

Delivered by partners such as the Oxford Said Business School and the Institute of Directors, the programmes aim to develop skills and confidence in order to enhance the value which leaders, governors and governance professionals add to their institution and its long-term resilience. As signalled in the Skills for jobs white paper, we strongly encourage people in those roles to take advantage of training and support, so do have a look now at what’s on offer.

6. Information: Condition Data Collection 2 (CDC2) update

From 2021 to 2026 the Department for Education is collecting data about the condition of school and FE college buildings. Surveying teams working on the CDC2 programme will be visiting every government funded school and FE college in England.

The next round of visits has been confirmed for the period from February 2022 to January 2023 (tranches 3 and 4). The list of schools to be visited in these tranches, and the full provisional list of schools to be visited in future tranches, is now available to view and download from the CDC2 section of the GOV.UK website.

Local authorities, dioceses and trusts will be invited by a surveying organisation to a preliminary virtual meeting with schools, which will gather general building information for the programme, prior to the site visit to collect building condition data.

7. Information: extension of the incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice

On 4 October 2021, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, announced a £500m expansion of government action, to tackle unemployment and support job seekers following the end of furlough. This included the extension of the popular incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice until the end January 2022. As of 29 September 2021, 35,220 employers have created 101,460 new apprenticeship opportunities for apprentices using the employer incentive, which was originally introduced as part of the Government’s Plan For Jobs in July 2020.

Employers will be able to apply for a payment of £3,000 for new apprentices of any age, who have an employment start date between 1 October 2021 and 31 January 2022. Operational details, including details of the application window, will follow shortly.

Claims for eligible apprentices, recruited between 1 April and 30 September 2021, remain unchanged; employers must submit their claim no later than 30 November 2021.

8. Information: introduction to the School Resource Management (SRM) tools available to Local Authorities webinar

Join us on Wednesday 3 November from 9:30 to 12:30 for an Introduction to the School Resource Management (SRM) tools available to Local Authorities.

Led by the DfE and ESFA’s SRM Strategy & Impact team, the event includes:

• An overview of why the SRM tools have been created, how they can be best used and where you can find them.
• Two ‘deep-dive’ sessions – On ‘the View My Financial Insights tool & the Schools’ Financial Benchmarking Service’ and ‘Procurement’.
• Opportunities to ask questions and network.

Please register your interest in attending. Once registered you will receive the agenda and calendar invite in due course.

Please forward this invitation onto any colleagues or contacts who may find this event of interest.

9. Information: opportunity to take part in COVID-19 Exam Support Service research

User Researchers at the ESFA are seeking volunteers to take part in a 30-minute research session for the COID-19 Exam Support Service. Research sessions will take place the week commencing 18 October 2021.

If you are responsible for organising exams in your organisation (e.g. exam manager) and are interested in taking part, please sign up to a session. A researcher will be in touch with more details.

10. Information: final funding claim for 2020 to 2021

The final funding claim window will open at 9am on Monday 25 October 2021.

Please submit your final funding claim by 5pm on Tuesday 2 November 2021. The claim form will be available on Submit Learner Data.

Your principal or a delegated authority must sign your claim digitally on Manage your education and skills funding by 5pm on Wednesday 3 November 2021.

You will need to submit a claim if you receive funds through:

• grant funded – ESFA adult education budget (AEB) (adult skills, community learning, 19 to 24 traineeships and COVID-19 skills offer)
• learner support for ESFA AEB procured (adult skills and 19 to 24 traineeships) – paid-on-profile
• 19 to 24 traineeships 2020 procurement - learner support – paid-on- profile
• grant funded - advanced learner loans bursary (ALLB)
• 16 to 19 education

Once you have submitted your claim you will also be able to view it on the Manage your education and skills funding service within fifteen minutes.

If you have any queries, please contact us using the online enquiry form.