Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 22 June 2022

Published 29 June 2022

This correspondence was withdrawn on 27 December 2023

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. Read the latest editions of ESFA Update for the latest news and information.

Applies to England

1. Action: the school-led tutoring year-end statement form is now live

The school-led tutoring: year-end statement form is now live. You will need to complete this form if you have received school-led tutoring funding.

The deadline for your submission is 6:00pm on Friday, 16 September 2022.

We have published guidance to help you complete the form.

You can read more on the school-led tutoring grant on GOV.UK.

2. Action: register now to deliver T Levels and the T Level Transition Programme from the 2024 to 2025 academic year

The registration portal opened earlier this year to allow providers not currently delivering T Levels to register their T Level intentions from the 2024 to 2025 academic year.

We encourage providers to register before 29 July 2022 to access the full implementation planning support on offer and to be eligible for T Level Capital Funding.

Providers will require a DfE sign-in account to register and only providers not signed-up to deliver T Levels already should apply.

The registration portal and supporting guidance can be accessed on GOV.UK. Providers can register up to midnight on the 24 March 2023, which is slightly earlier than originally communicated, but it will now close before we open registration for 2025 T Level delivery at end March 2023.

3. Reminder: local authority post-16 grant return for 2021 to 2022 financial year

Local authorities are required to submit their signed post-16 grant return in the template issued to all local authority chief financial officers copied to chief executives on 31 May 2022, by email to academiesfinancialmonitoring.efa@education.gov.uk by 30 June 2022.

4. Information: pupil premium allocations for 2022 to 2023

We have published the updated pupil premium allocations for the first quarter of the 2022 to 2023 financial year.

5. Information: universal free school meals (UIFSM) 2021 to 2022 and 2022 to 2023

We have now published the final UIFSM allocations for the 2021 to 2022 academic year for each school.

We have also published the provisional allocations for the 2022 to 2023 academic year.

6. Information: coronavirus (COVID-19) 16 to 19 tuition guidance 2022 to 2023

We have updated our coronavirus (COVID-19) 16 to 19 tuition guidance with more information about the midyear and end of year reporting process.

• We have provided further information about midyear reports and confirmed that we will issue a digital form and guidance to collect this information in January 2023.
• We have provided further information about end-of-year reports and confirmed that we will issue a digital form and guidance to collect this information in October 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact us using the ESFA online enquiry form.

7. Information: 2021 to 2022 year-end forecast funding claim – indicative reconciliation statements

We will upload your indicative year-end reconciliation statement(s) through Manage your education and skills funding (MYESF) for the following funding streams. We aim to complete this by Friday 1 July.

• grant funded - ESFA funded adult education budget (AEB) (adult skills, community learning, 19 to 24 traineeships and national skills fund Level 3 adult offer)
• grant funded - advanced learner loans bursary (ALLB)

You do not need to take any action at this stage. These statements are indicative and based on your recent year-end forecast claim return, so that you are aware of any potential impact before we publish your final reconciliation statements in November 2022.

Where appropriate, we will show any funding monitoring return errors within your indicative reconciliation statement. This is so you are aware of the potential impact before final claim reconciliation statements.

If you have any queries, please contact the Service Desk or your Territorial team.

8. Information: change to payment dates from August 2022

From August 2022 we are combining the payment dates for the grant funded adult programmes and 16 to 19 funding.

Currently adult grants are paid on the 14th working day and they will move to the 18th calendar day or first working day prior:

• adult education budget (grant funded)
• advance learner loans bursary (grant funded)

In August 2022, payments will reach bank accounts on the same date (18 August), however, in September adult grant funding will paid on 16 September instead of 20 September.

If you are in receipt of both adult funding and 16 to 19 funding these will be paid together and if applicable will be offset against one another when payments are processed.

If you have any questions, please contact the enquiry service.

9. Information: National Skills fund first time request - June 2022

We will shortly be conducting a review of National Skills funding (NSF) contracted within the Procured ESFA Funded adult education budget (AEB) contracts.

All Procured AEB Contract for Services providers can request a first time ESFA Funded NSF allocation up to a maximum £45,000.

Full details are available within the request form. The submission deadline is 5pm on 13 July 2022.

If you have any queries about this process, please contact your territorial team lead.

10. Information: 16 to 19 additional hours in study programmes

We have updated our 16 to 19 additional hours in study programmes guidance with more information about baseline data and end-of-year reporting.

Baseline data:

• you will find your data in document exchange
• we will use your data to compare to your planned hours recorded in 2022 to 2023 academic year as explained in our guidance

End-of-year report:

• we have provided further information about end-of-year reports and confirmed that we will issue a digital form and guidance to collect this information in October 2023
• we will tell you more about this nearer the time

If you have any questions, please contact us using the ESFA online enquiry form.

11. Information: New online toolkit for European Social Fund performance review points

We are introducing a new online toolkit for European Social Fund (ESF) providers to use as part of future performance review points until the end of the contracts for services in March 2023. The toolkit will replace the spreadsheet currently used at performance review points and is accessed through Submit Learner Data. In order to ensure a smooth transition, please ensure that all relevant staff have the required user roles to IDAMS in order to access Submit Learner Data. User roles can be added or amended by your organisation’s super user.

A webinar will be held at 14:30 on 19 July 2022 to demonstrate the new online toolkit and further information regarding this will shortly be provided via your ESF adviser.

12. Information: exam results and taking the next step 101: Local webinars for parents and carers’

With the exam period coming to an end, many pupils will be preparing to take their next step into further academic studies or the workplace, which we know can be confusing and feel a bit daunting.

Throughout the summer the National Careers Service is running a series of webinars for parents and carers of young people who are expecting their exam results this August. This a fantastic chance for parents & carers to learn more about how to support their children with advice about choices and careers, information on useful sources, advice for results day and a Q&A with a panel of experts. The schedule of webinars can be found online.

Please share this information with parents and students who could benefit from this support.

13. Information: join these webinars on DfE approved frameworks and see how you could save money for your school

The Department for Education (DfE) 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 these Eventbrite links to join the Schools Commercial Team and take the opportunity to ask providers the questions you may have about:

• Water sustainability – find out how your school can save water and money
• Get help buying for schools – find out how you can get the best value goods and services for your school
• Hiring supply teachers – find out how you can save money on temp-to-perm fees
• Buying gas or electric – find out how this YPO framework can help your school

Follow our ‘Buying for Schools’ LinkedIn page to learn more about how we can support your school to buy goods and services.

14. Information: get involved with the Commonwealth Games

Birmingham 2022 has invited all schools to take part in their youth programme ‘Bring the Power’ and create their own school festival day.

Schools’ activity can take place on any day that suits them before the end of the summer term. We recommend that the day is co-designed by pupils with anything from introductory assemblies to sports days, or existing school events such as Sport England’s School Games or Sport Relief events.

Sign up to access the Bring the Power pack full of downloadable resources, which are separate for primary and secondary schools.