ESFA Update academies: 20 April 2022
Published 20 April 2022
Applies to England
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1. Information: access to free school meals and the two-year-old early education entitlement for children from families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
In 2020, government temporarily extended free school meal eligibility to include some children of groups who have NRPF. On 24 March 2022, following a cross-government review, we confirmed the permanent extension of eligibility for free school meals to children from all families with NRPF, subject to specified income thresholds.
This permanent extension will begin from the start of the summer term 2022 and will ensure that children up and down the country can continue to access healthy, nutritious meals to help them concentrate, learn and achieve in the classroom. The department has published guidance which includes advice about how schools can check and validate eligibility.
Since 2020, some NRPF households have also been able to access the two-year-old early education entitlement and the department is now consulting on whether further NRPF groups should be eligible for this. The consultation is live until 20 May 2022.
2. Information: visit the Schools and Academies Show in London, 27 April 2022
Visit us at the Schools and Academies Show on 27 April at the ExCel Centre E16 1XL.
Following the opening keynote address “What changes should we expect following the Schools White Paper” delivered by Baroness Barran MBE, visit the Government Education Village.
Speak directly with colleagues from teams including funding, good estate management, behaviour management, cyber security, teacher wellbeing and schools commercial.
Join one of our short sessions including:
- how we can tackle teacher workload and why we should
- the education staff wellbeing charter
- five ways your school will be hacked (and how to make them not happen)
- schools buying programme
- an introduction to the national tutoring programme
- building students’ resilience to extremist narratives
3. Information: view my financial insight training (VMFI) webinars
Spaces are still available on a series of training webinars for the view my financial insights (VMFI) tool.
VMFI provides visual information on the financial performance of schools and has been updated with the latest 2020/21 data from both the consistent financial reporting (CFR) and the accounts return. You can log in now to view the refreshed metrics.
To sign up for a webinar, please click the links below:
4. Information: school led tutoring
It’s not too late to access your school led tutoring funds.
Schools will be receiving a minimum 15% uplift in their final SLT instalment between the end of April and beginning of May.
We encourage schools to take action now to provide support to pupils over the summer term and through July and August, to help set students up for success in the new school year.
Any funds not used by schools by the end of August will need to be returned to the department.
5. Information: 16 to 19 tuition fund allocation for 2021 to 2022
We have published the 16 to 19 tuition fund allocations for the academic year 2021 to 2022 on GOV.UK.
The fund provides targeted small group tuition in English, mathematics and other subjects where learning has been disrupted because of the pandemic and is available to all 16 to 19 providers.
For further information, detailed guidance about the 16 to 19 tuition fund can be found on GOV.UK.
6. Information: join these webinars on approved frameworks and see how you could save money for your school
The Department for Education (DfE) is hosting webinars on how using our approved frameworks could help your school get value for money.
If you are responsible for buying goods and services for your schools, check out the range of informative webinars that could help you save time and money.
All sessions are free, use these Eventbrite links to join the Schools Commercial Team and take the opportunity to ask providers the questions you may have:
- YPO internal fit out - 3 May 2022
- CPC energy - 3 May 2022
- Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA) - 4 May 2022
- CPC ICT networking & storage - 4 May 2022
- CCS Ed-Tech - 5 May 2022
For the latest on our wide range of webinars, check out the events tab on our Buying for schools LinkedIn page.
7. Information: contractor vetting webinar for RPA members
As part of our risk management support, DfE, in conjunction with Willis Towers Watson, are hosting a webinar on Asbestos Management. This workshop will focus on:
- vetting contractors who carry out services on school premises ranging from large scale construction projects to small scale servicing and maintenance
- an overview of the law and how it applies to schools
Please select the best date for you to read more information and register:
8. Information: market engagement opportunity for adult prison education services in England
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is very keen to hear from academy trusts on their experience of delivering high quality education and improving attainment and learner experiences.
MoJ has issued a Prior Information Notice (PIN) containing details of market engagement activity relating to adult prison education services in all prisons in England. They want to engage with a range of providers, including those who have not previously considered providing services in custody, to learn from innovation and best practice across the education sector.
Links to the PIN can be found here:
- Contracts Finder
- Find a Tender Service (Notice No: 2022/S 000-007779)
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is establishing the government’s vision to deliver a Prisoner Education Service which equips prisoners with the numeracy, literacy, skills and qualifications they need to get jobs or apprenticeships after they leave custody. They will therefore be seeking to procure new contracts to deliver education services in prisons across England.
A market engagement launch event, will be held via webinar on 26th April 2022. You can find out more information about the webinar and how to join on Contracts Finder.
For queries please contact: CCMD-PrisonEducationService-Programme@Justice.gov.uk.