ESFA Update local authorities: 23 September 2020
Published 23 September 2020
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2020
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1. Latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Department for Education has published guidance about COVID-19 in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students on GOV.UK.
Please check GOV.UK regularly for updates.
2. Information: 16 to 19 local authorities grant return and use of funds statement; process for 2019 to 2020
We sent an e-mail to all local authority Chief Financial Officers copied to Chief Executives on Monday 21 September highlighting the process for LAs to submit their 16 to 19 LA grant return and use of funds statement for 2019 to 2020.
ESFA will require LAs to upload CFO/Section 151 Officer signed LA grant return and use of funds statement to the ESFA’s Document Exchange accessed through DfE Sign In by 31 October 2020. Please note that you would still need to send a nil return for this collection. We have published guidance on GOV.UK.
3. Information: how T Levels are funded from 2021 to 2022 academic year
We have published how T Levels are funded guidance regarding the size of the technical qualifications for the second wave of T Levels being delivered from 2021 to 2022.
4. Information: 16 to 19 tuition fund opt-in template
We originally set a deadline of 16 September for providers to opt-in to the 16 to 19 tuition fund. We are aware that some institutions did not see their opt-in template in time to respond by that date, and so we have a set up an additional window for further responses.
For those providers who have not yet responded, opt-in templates should be completed and returned to ESFA by 14 October 2020. Eligible providers will find their template on the ESFA Information Exchange, which you can access by logging into DfE Sign-In.
Full details of eligibility are given in the guidance on the 16 to 19 tuition fund. Special schools and special academies are not in scope for the 16 to 19 tuition fund as all of their provision is covered by the schools catch-up premium funding.
5. Information: 2019 to 2020 Year End for grant funded providers with AEB and ALLB delivery
We are finalising options for an appropriate mechanism to close the 2019 to 20 funding year. We recognise 2019 to 2020 has been a challenging year and our primary concern remains the stability of providers going into 2020 to 2021, alongside ensuring the proper use of public funds through an approach that will be fair, open, and transparent.
6. Information: new high needs funding operational guidance
We have published the 2021 to 2022 high needs funding operational guide which sets out:
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changes to the high needs funding system in 2021 to 2022
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a summary of key dates and actions for local authorities and institutions
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information on funding arrangements for alternative provision.
We have also published separate guidance for local authorities on funding for special free schools.
We have also recently published a new dedicated schools grant (DSG) management template. This enables LAs to monitor how DSG funding is being spent, compare high needs spending with other local authorities and help plan for the provision of children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND).
7. Information: non-levy apprenticeships extension allocations review
When allocations were issued we committed to reviewing them using R09 data (April data submitted in May) to make sure they were set at the right level to fund all carry-in learners. We postponed this review as not all providers were able to submit full R09 data. This review will now take place at the same time as the performance-management review set out in the apprenticeship performance-management rules for training providers. We will use R01 data returns to review allocations.
As usual process, your allocation may be adjusted (decreased or increased) in-line with your delivery. We will only increase funding for carry-in learners and adjustments will be subject to affordability. We will not increase funding for new starts as you can route any new starts that will cause you to exceed your new starts allocation through the Apprenticeship Service.
If you have any queries, please contact us using our ESFA online form.
8. Information: coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium allocations
We’ve published the provisional allocation tables and conditions of grant for the coronavirus (COVID-19) catch-up premium.
9. Information: Capacity and Delivery Fund data returns
We have published a recorded presentation outlining information to assist Capacity and Delivery Fund (CDF) providers when completing ILR and school census data returns. Providers should view this to support the completion of end year data for the 2019 to 2020 academic year.
This information will support the monitoring requirements of funds allocated for the delivery of industry placements through CDF. Further information on monitoring requirements can be found on GOV.UK.