ESFA Update further education: 16 November 2022
Published 16 November 2022
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-16-november-2022/esfa-update-further-education-16-november-2022
1. Information: new closing date of 14 December 2022 for the FE Workforce data collection
The collection window has been extended until 14 of December, as we recognise that many providers will be submitting returns for the first time and want to support you as you respond.
The collection can be found on Submit learner data.
As well as publishing data and conclusions, we have a number of interested parties, including Ofsted, who want to see compliance status of the providers serving the sector.
The FE Workforce data collection for the 2021 to 2022 academic year opened on 12 September 2022 and will close on 14 December 2022.
Revised documents have been published on GOV.UK.
We would like to remind you that this return is mandatory for 2021 to 2022.
From Tuesday 15 November until 14 December, when the FE Workforce Staff, Vacancy and Governor data collections close, providers can join a daily call to raise queries and get questions answered to help with completion of their 2021 to 2022 data returns.
The call will open at 10:30am daily for 30 minutes. Note that providers may need to wait in the lobby to be admitted to the call to enable the calls to be conducted one on one, we will be using breakout rooms to do this.
You can join via Microsoft Teams:
- Meeting ID: 344 117 815 891
- Passcode: AziXyT
| Download Teams | Join on the web |
Or call in (audio only):
- +44 20 3321 5238,,694681474# United Kingdom, London
- Phone Conference ID: 694 681 474#
Please cascade this message to the relevant leads in your organisation.
2. Information: ESFA adult education budget (AEB) funding and performance management rules 2022 to 2023
The rules apply to all providers of education and training who receive AEB funding from ESFA.
A full breakdown of the changes is included in the ‘What’s New?’ section of the rules. We have:
- aligned the administrative earnings thresholds with DWP in the unemployed section
- amended the free courses for jobs section and associated boxes in the government contribution tables
- strengthened the ESOL section for learners who meet the unemployed definition or the low wage threshold. There is no change to the available provision
We have published a level 3 qualifications flow chart which sets out the options available to a learner who wishes to enrol on a level 3 qualification funded by ESFA. This is supplementary to the AEB funding rules and advanced learner loans rules.
3. Information: latest on the post-16 Provider Data Self-Assessment Toolkit (PDSAT)
The post-16 Provider Data Self-Assessment Toolkit (PDSAT) is on track to be released in a single phase, including the sampler, in mid/late December, and we will continue to provide updates over the coming weeks.
PDSATs is principally used by post-16 Providers to review their Individualised Learner Record (ILR) returns and a tool within a provider’s data analytical toolkit. Providers who have R04 obligations should maintain their focus on the quality and accuracy of their data returns in line with their normal practices.
Pre-registration for PDSAT online has now closed and ESFA are in the process of reviewing just over 1,000 pre-registrations. Registrants will receive notifications of acceptance or rejection once ESFA have completed this review.
Anyone that did not pre-register, or who is subsequently rejected post the pre-registration stage, will still be able to register a request for their own login at any time once PDSAT online goes live.
4. Information: new funding reports guidance
We have published version 1 of the guidance on the 2022 to 2023 ILR funding reports generated when providers submit a file to Submit Learner Data. This guidance for young people and adult programmes covers:
- 16 to 19 (excluding apprenticeships)
- adult education budget (devolved and non-devolved)
- free courses for jobs
- all apprenticeships
- European social fund
- advanced learner loans bursary
- community learning
- ESFA funded skills bootcamps
The key changes from last year’s reports are:
- we have added the ‘Skills Bootcamp Funding Summary Report’ and the ‘Skills Bootcamp Occupancy Report’
- improvements to the ‘Apps Co-investment Contributions Report’
- improvements to the ‘16-19 Funding Claim Report’
5. Information: FE leadership and governance professional development
Supported by the Department for Education (DfE), the Education and Training Foundation’s (ETF) professional development programmes for FE governors, governance professionals, senior and middle leaders are now live.
You can book governance courses and events via the ETF governance webpage, including:
- Governance Professionals’ Development Programme. 3 CPD courses across different levels to support governance professionals to work with their board effectively. This is your last chance to book.
- Chairs of the Future programme. A new programme supporting established governors to become a chair in the near future. New dates have been added with 50% discount currently live.
You can book leadership courses and events via the ETF leadership webpage, including:
- Chief Finance Officer programme – supports high-performing senior finance professionals and CFOs to become more effective strategic business partners.
- Leadership Mentoring programme – supports professional and career development through six free sessions of confidential mentoring. ETF particularly encourages applications from leaders from black and minority ethnic communities, people with disabilities and those who identify as LGBTIA+.
6. Information: Teaching Regulation Agency – are you interested in becoming a teacher or lay panellist?
Under the Education Act 2002, the Secretary of State for Education has responsibility to regulate teachers’ conduct and to hold a list of teachers who have been prohibited from teaching. The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) operates the regulatory system on the Secretary of State’s behalf.
The Teacher Regulation, School Safeguarding and Safety policy team within the DfE is currently recruiting teacher and lay panellists to sit as members of the professional conduct panels. Panels are convened to hear and consider allegations of serious teacher misconduct and then determine whether to make a recommendation of teacher prohibition to the Secretary of State.
A panellist’s role helps to safeguard pupils, maintain public confidence in the teaching profession and uphold proper standards of conduct referred to as public interest.
More information on the vacancy can be found on GOV.UK.
7. Information: the Musculoskeletal (MSK) Health Toolkit for employers and further education institutions
The Musculoskeletal (MSK) Health Toolkit for employers and further education institutions shows how to support adolescents and young adults to a better future.
The toolkit was developed in collaboration with the British Society of Rheumatologists and the Society of Occupational Medicine alongside clinical experts, patient representative groups, college and university representatives and adolescents and young people themselves.
The toolkits aims to:
- help employers and FE institutions understand the part they play in preventing MSK conditions
- set out how employers and FE institutions can support young people with chronic MSK conditions to realise their potential, thrive and remain in work or education
This toolkit sets out practical advice for employers and FE institutions.