Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 24 April 2024

Published 24 April 2024

Applies to England

Action: Business case deadline for adult funding allocations 2024 to 2025 – Sunday 28 April 2024

This is a reminder to carefully review your 19+ funding allocation and raise a business case if you:

• had a significant data error that has affected your allocation
• have a contract value for the 2023 to 2024 funding year (for the relevant funding stream) but did not receive a 2024 to 2025 allocation

The deadline for the following funding streams is Sunday 28 April 2024:

• the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) adult skills fund (non-procured), including free courses for jobs
• advanced learner loan facilities and bursaries

Submit your business case using the new digital form. You can find this on manage your education and skills funding or in our 19+ funding allocations guidance.

Information: Launch of section 151 officer assurance return for 2023 to 2024

The section 151 (S151) officer assurance return for 2023 to 2024 is now available.  You can find more information, and instructions on completing your return in the 2023 to 2024 guidance.

The purpose of the return is for the S151 officer to provide assurances to ESFA and the Department for Education (DfE) that pre-16 and post-16 funding has been used for the intended purposes, in line with the terms and conditions of the grants and the funding rules, and that they are not aware of any errors, exceptions or fraud for the financial year 2023 to 2024.

This year, the return also includes the schools financial value standard (SFVS) assurance statement.

The deadline for the submission of all forms and the S151 officer statement declaration is 5pm on Friday 24 May 2024.

For any queries, email la.assurance@education.gov.uk.

Information: update of PE and sports premium allocations for 2023 to 2024 academic year

ESFA has updated the 2023 to 2024 allocations for PE and sport premium on the Manage your education and skills funding (MYESF) service where users can directly access information. This update reflects estate changes across the school sector.

Information: ESFA adult skills fund contract for services (procured from 2023) allocations

We are currently preparing allocations for the ESFA adult skills fund contract for services (procured from August 2023) allocations, based on the individualised learner record (ILR) data you return at R09. It is important that your data is accurate and up to date at this point. 

We have published a timeline so that you know when to expect information from us. We will update our 19+ technical guidance which will explain how we have calculated your allocation. You can find the ILR return deadlines in the 2023 to 2024 schedule for uploading ILR achievement data to the personal learner record (PLR).

Information: 2024 to 2025 advanced learner loans application service

The 2024 to 2025 advanced learner loans application service will be available from Monday 10 June 2024 for learners who wish to start eligible qualifications from 1 August 2024 funded by a loan.

Information: Find out more about buying for your school or trust at the Schools and Academies Show, Wednesday 1 May

Join DfE’s Schools Commercial team on Wednesday 1 May 2024 at the Schools and Academies Show, Excel, London.

The team are hosting 4 sessions at the show starting with a 45-minute panel session at the Business and Finance theatre from 10am to 10:45am. The session is called ‘contracts that benefit communities: achieving social value through effective procurement’ and will cover:

• what social value means
• how social value could benefit your school or trust
• how to build social value into your procurement planning and process

In the afternoon there’s a session in the Compliance Theatre, from 2pm to 2:30pm, looking at nature-based solutions to improve school flood resilience and raise environmental awareness. 

You can also sign up for these sessions in the DfE Theatre:

• 10:45am to 11:05am: How to make your contracts work smarter for your trust
• 11:15am to 11:35am: Navigating complex school procurement with confidence

The Schools Commercial team will be available all day at their stand in the Government Village and are happy to take your questions about buying goods and services for your schools or trust.

Sign up for the Schools and Academies Show now, if you haven’t already. Registration is free for schools, multi-academy trusts and the wider public sector.

Information: Use your National Tutoring Programme funding to support pupils with SEND

Schools can use their National Tutoring Programme (NTP) funding to contribute to 50% of tutoring costs until 31 August 2024. This includes alternative types of established, evidence-underpinned interventions for pupils with SEND, including:

• speech and language therapy
• fine and gross motor skills (holding pens and pencils, aiding writing development and other learning outcomes)
• study skills (listening capability, homework and revision strategies, assistive technology skills and classwork strategies)
• social skills and communication (role play and play interaction)
• sensory based interventions (aiding information processing, sensory development, and sensory regulation)

Read the blog from The Imperium Federation, where executive headteacher, Meic Griffiths, shares the impact of tutoring and why he recommends using NTP to support pupils with SEND.

Find out more about funding for special schools and read the guidance on delivering tutoring to support pupils with SEND.

Information: Cyber workshop for risk protection arrangement members

Willis Towers Watson is providing risk management support for all risk protection arrangement (RPA) members through audit, guidance and advice. As part of the risk management support, RPA members are invited to a workshop covering:

• the minimum requirements for the management of cyber risk
• best practices concerning the management of cyber risk
• a case study about a cyber incident
• how to spot and respond to a cyber-attack and where to go for guidance and support

Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis:

• 10am to midday, Thursday 9 May 2024
• 10am to midday, Wednesday 15 May 2024