Correspondence

ESFA Update academies: 26 July 2023

Published 26 July 2023

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2023

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-26-july-2023/esfa-update-academies-26-july-2023

1. Reminder: academies budget and forecast return (BFR) deadline submission reminder

The BFR deadline is the 31 August 2023 and thank you to all the trusts who have already submitted their BFR.

If you’re still working on your BFR and have any questions or queries about your return, you can contact us via ESFA enquiry form or alternatively join our sector call dial in on Tuesday during July and August.

You can check the dates and time on the BFR guidance website and seek for further information.

2. Information: Academy Finance Professionals August Power Hour – Related Party Transactions (RPTs)

Would you like to know more about the changes to RPTs following publication of the Academy Trust Handbook 2023?

Join the next Power Hour on Wednesday 2 August 11am to 12 noon.

The session will include:

  • the increase to approval thresholds for RPTs from 1 September 2023

  • ESFA’s approval and declaration requirements.

There will be the opportunity to ask questions during the event.

Register now to guarantee your place.

3. Information: early years funding consultation

Following the 2023 Spring Budget announcement to expand the free early education entitlements from April 2024, on 21 July, DfE published a consultation on the proposed approach to funding for 2-year-olds and under from 2024 to 2025.

The consultation closes at 11:59pm on 8 September 2023.

With the introduction of the new entitlements for working parents of children aged 9 months to 2 years, it is important that the funding system in place supports the delivery of these entitlements and ensures that we are continuing to distribute funding fairly and efficiently to local authorities.

The consultation also sets out proposals for the local funding framework within which local authorities will be expected to pass the money on to early years providers.

The consultation and illustrative local authority hourly rates for the entitlements for 2-year-olds and under for 2024 to 2025 are available at early years funding – extension of the entitlements.

4. Information: further changes to 16 to 19 funding for 2023 to 2024

Following the announcement of additional funding for further education we have made changes to a number of 16 to 19 funding rates and policies.

We have increased the national funding rate, programme cost weights, disadvantage block 2 rates and the care leavers rate. We wrote to institutions significantly impacted by the baseline change to the Advanced Maths Premium in April, and we have clarified funding relating to wave 4 T Levels.

Guidance with changes include:

If you have any questions after reading our guidance, please contact us using our online enquiry form.

5. Information: Transforming Public Procurement (TPP) consultation part 2 now live

The Transforming Public Procurement (TPP) programme will replace the current Public Contract Regulations 2015, aiming to improve how public procurement is regulated, and will introduce changes to the way public sector organisations buy goods and services.

All the information schools and MATs need can be found on GOV.UK, including guidance documents to help with planning and preparation, recent webinars, details of the learning and development package available and details of the current Cabinet Office consultation on TPP which closes on 25 August. We encourage you to take the opportunity to submit a response on behalf of your school/ MAT.

We would encourage anyone in a procurement or purchasing role to sign up to the regular TPP updates using this form to ensure you are up to date with all of the relevant information.

6. Your feedback: academy business professionals – can you help to improve the Accounts Submission Coversheet (ASC)?

ESFA and DfE want to find out how they can improve the ASC to meet your needs better.

If you have been involved in completing or using the ASC and you’d be willing to help us, you can provide feedback on proposed changes in an online survey.

Do consider getting involved. The information you provide will help us to ensure that we understand your needs and can meet them.

If you have any questions or you would like further information, please contact us via email.

Back to top