ESFA Update academies: 24 November 2021
Published 24 November 2021
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-24-november-2021/esfa-update-academies-24-november-2021
1. Action: join these webinars on approved frameworks and see how you could save money for your school
The Department for Education 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 the below Eventbrite links to join the Schools Commercial Team and take the opportunity to ask providers the questions you may have about legal services, energy and cyber security.
- Legal Services – 8 December 2021
- Energy – multiple dates
- Cyber security - 9 December 2021
- Risk Protection Arrangement – multiple dates
For the latest on our wide range of webinars, check out the events tab on our Buying for schools LinkedIn page.
2. Reminder: changes to payment history in Manage your education and skills funding
The old interface for viewing payment history in Manage your education and skills funding will no longer be available from Thursday 9 December.
To continue to see your payment history via the new interface, please ensure you have requested the role of Payments Viewer in IDAMS by Thursday 9 December.
If you miss this deadline, you will still be able to request the Payments Viewer role but you will not able to see your payment history until the request has been actioned.
3. Reminder: R04 individualised learner record (ILR) data return
The R04 ILR data return closes on Monday 6 December. It is important that you submit accurate and timely data.
We use your R04 data return in several ways, including:
- calculating 16 to 19 growth for the 2021 to 2022 funding year (subject to affordability)
- reconciling independent learning provider’s 16 to 19 ILR recorded delivery against funding allocations for 2021 to 2022 funding year
- calculating 16 to 19 funding allocations for 2022 to 2023 funding year
- calculating the carry over costs for procured non-levy apprenticeship contracts for the 2022 to 2023 financial year
- supporting the calculation of 19+ funding allocations for the 2022 to 2023 funding year
- measuring the performance of your adult education budget, 16 to 18 traineeship (for providers without 16 to 19 funding) and 19 to 24 traineeship contract values as set out in the adult education budget (AEB) funding rules 2021 to 2022
For further information on data submissions please refer to our ESFA - Online Documentation site and also our funding guidance for young people: ILR funding returns.
If you have any queries, please contact your territorial team lead or use the ESFA help centre.
4. Information: School and College security guidance
Following the two confirmed terrorist incidents in the past month, the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) have increased the national threat level from ‘Substantial’ to ‘Severe’. Whilst it should be noted that there is no credible threat to the education sector, education settings may wish to review their security policies following these incidents.
The non-statutory School and College Security Guidance includes a range of helpful security guidance and advice covering a range of security risks to help settings review their security policies.
5. Information: statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms
On Friday 19 November the Department for Education published new statutory guidance on the cost of school uniforms. The new guidance is available on GOV.UK.
School uniform should never be a burden for parents or a barrier to pupils accessing education. This guidance means that schools will have a legal duty to take steps to keep uniform costs down.
The guidance requires schools to think holistically about the cost of their school uniform and so covers a range of issues including branded items, supplier arrangements, and second-hand uniform. The guidance also sets out when schools are expected to implement the changes required.
The Department has also updated the wider non-statutory advice on developing and implementing a school uniform policy.
The Department has also produced a resource aimed at parents to help explain some of the key changes. Schools are invited to share this with their parents.