Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 22 May 2019

Published 22 May 2019

This correspondence was withdrawn on

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. Find the latest information from ESFA in the latest ESFA Update.

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2019

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-22-may-2019/esfa-update-local-authorities-22-may-2019

1. Information: Independent Learning Providers (ILPs) delivering education to compulsory school age students

We have written to Independent Learning Providers (ILPs) that have recorded students of compulsory school age on their individualised learner record (ILR) return.

Any ILP delivering education to this age group may meet the criteria to be an independent school. If it does, then it is required to register as an independent school with the Department for Education (DfE). DfE guidance about independent school registration and what settings must register is available on GOV.UK.

Any person conducting an unregistered independent school is in breach of the law and may be liable to prosecution under section 96 of the Education and Skills Act 2008. DfE cannot endorse providers operating in breach of the law.

We have also written to local authorities to inform them of this issue and to remind them that they must not commission places in unregistered independent schools.

We have published a copy of the letter to ILPs and LAs on GOV.UK. If you have not received a letter this does not remove the need to regularise the position if you believe that your organisation is affected by this issue.

If you have any queries on registration, please email registration.enquiries@education.gov.uk or for queries on funding implications, please email online enquiry form.

2. Information: new package of support announced to support industry placements

On Sunday 19 May 2019, the department announced a new package of support to help employers offer industry placements in readiness for the T Level rollout in September 2020.

The package includes:

  • guidance to support employers and providers to offer industry placements, allowing industry placements to be undertaken with up to 2 employers
  • high quality placements are now measured by hours rather than days. The placement must be at least 315 hours.
  • a pilot scheme to understand more about employer support
  • ‘how to’ guides and workshops

We have also updated our capacity and delivery fund (CDF) information for providers delivering industry placements in both 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020 and for providers delivering industry placements for the first time in 2019 to 2020.

3. Your feedback: maintained schools funding improvement survey

We’re making improvements to the place you go online to view your funding from ESFA. We need valuable input, specifically from your maintained schools, in the following roles:

  • bursars, finance officers, or equivalent
  • anyone who uses the dedicated schools grant (DSG) information published online

You can access the survey online which takes only 5 to 10 minutes to complete. Please do pass the survey onto colleagues for maintained schools.

If you have any questions, please contact charlotte.lewis@education.gov.uk and suzanne.higham@education.gov.uk.

Back to top