Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 20 April 2022

Published 20 April 2022

This correspondence was withdrawn on 27 December 2023

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date.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: local authority 16 to 19 funds two-part return for 2020 to 2021 financial year

Local authorities are required to upload the 16 to 19 funds two-part return to the ESFA’s Document Exchange by 30 April 2022.

Please upload the returns using the guidance supplied with the email issued to the Chief Finance Officer and also with the return on Document Exchange.

You can access ESFA’s new Document Exchange portal by logging onto Document Exchange service. You can review documents you’ve sent by selecting ‘documents you’ve sent to ESFA’ from the main Document Exchange page.

You can access the Document Exchange by logging into DFE Sign-In. If you don’t have access to Document Exchange but would like it, please speak to one of the super users within your organisation. If you’re unsure who this is, please speak to the head of the organisation.

2. Information: publication of the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund audit guide for the 2022 to 2023 academic year

We have published the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund audit guide this week.

Although the guide is aimed primarily at local authorities, other institutions may find it helpful to review the information about ESFA assurance and audit as they review their bursary fund processes and policies ahead of the new academic year.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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 with the transition from primary to secondary school and preparation for public exams in the new academic year.

Any funds not used by schools by the end of August will need to be returned to the department.

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:

• 12 May 2022 – 10:00am to midday
• 26 May 2022 – 10:00am to midday