Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 16 November 2022

Published 16 November 2022

This correspondence was withdrawn on

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date.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

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-16-november-2022/esfa-update-local-authorities-16-november-2022

1. 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:

  1. aligned the administrative earnings thresholds with DWP in the unemployed section
  2. amended the free courses for jobs section and associated boxes in the government contribution tables
  3. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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’

4. 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.

5. Information: join these webinars on approved frameworks and see how you could save money for your school

Are you responsible for buying goods and services for your school? The Schools Commercial Team (SCT) within the Department for Education is leading on the Buying for Schools programme; delivering services to support schools to buy goods and services.

The team are hosting free webinars on how using our approved frameworks could save you time and help your school get value for money. Our autumn programme will start up again mid-November with the webinars listed below. Click on the links to find out more and book your place:

You can find the full programme of webinars for the remainder of the autumn term on the Autumn 2022 webinar page. Visit the page to find out more and book your place.

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