ESFA Update local authorities: 14 August 2019
Published 14 August 2019
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2019
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-14-august-2019/esfa-update-local-authorities-14-august-2019
1. Information: 2019 to 2020 school census guide
The Department for Education (DfE) have recently been working to improve the school census guide following feedback from schools and local authorities. Following a full review, we are pleased to inform you that for the 2019 to 2020 academic year the guide has been replaced with a web based manual.
The school census manual has many benefits such as:
- important information presented first – such as key dates and changes
- process driven approach – showing what is expected in the submission of the census
- clearer content - reducing duplication and confusion
- search function – enabling the information to be found quickly
- data items listed by school type – ensuring each school type can clearly see what is expected
The manual currently contains information relating to the autumn 2019 census, with the spring and summer 2020 to follow shortly.
For any queries relating to the school census and / or the manual, please use the data collections service request form.
2. Information: cyber crime and cyber security guide for education providers
We have published guidance to help education providers protect themselves from cyber crime. The guide also contains a checklist to help improve cyber security.
3. Information: changes to the Student Bursary Support Service (SBSS)
ESFA has appointed a new provider to deliver the SBSS. The SBSS is the online service that administers the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund claims for students in defined vulnerable groups. A new portal will be available on Monday 2 September 2019 to submit claims for eligible students for the 2019 to 2020 academic year.
User accounts have been set up for those education institutions that are eligible to claim from the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund. Users must activate their account before signing in to the new SBSS portal. Instructions on how to do this will be provided on the portal. A link to the portal will be made available on GOV.UK on Monday 2 September 2019.