Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 30 November 2022

Published 30 November 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This correspondence was withdrawn on 27 December 2023

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date.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. Information: national non-domestic rates (NNDR) accounting guidance for local authorities and academies

We have published the NNDR accounting guidance which provides details on how local authorities and academies should account for NNDR.

Local authorities should refer to the draft 2023 to 2024 authority proforma tool (APT) guidance, which was issued with the modelling APT in August 2022, alongside the NNDR accounting guidance. We will publish updated APT guidance in December 2022.

2. Information: high needs benchmarking tool

We have re-published the high needs benchmarking tool.

Local authorities can use this to assess levels of spend and pattern of provision against neighbouring local authorities (both geographically and statistically) and national trends. Analysis of this data will help inform local authorities’ future plans and prompt local discussion of how current spending patterns might need to change.

The updated tool includes new section 251 data (2020 to 2021 outturn and 2021 to 2022 budget) and special educational needs (SEN) data for January 2021 and 2022. We’ve updated statistical neighbours data and added new local authorities North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire.

High needs national funding formula (NFF) data has been removed as the tool’s format made it difficult to compare local authorities, and provisional NFF allocations published for each year are subject to adjustments within final dedicated schools grant (DSG) allocations. You can view high needs NFF provisional allocation tables and DSG allocations.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

3. Information: local authority two part 16 to 19 funds funding reconciliation return for the 2021 to 2022 financial year

We sent an email to all local authority chief financial officers copied to chief executives on 29 November 2022, highlighting the process for local authorities to submit their 16 to 19 funds two-part return to ESFA for 2021 to 2022 using Document Exchange.

Local authorities must complete and upload both the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) signed grant return (Tab 1) and 16 to 19 use of funds reconciliation return (Tab 2) to ESFA’s Document Exchange by 15 December 2022. We have added detailed guidance to the commissioning email.

You can access ESFA’s new Document Exchange portal by logging onto Document Exchange service.

You can review documents you’ve sent by selecting ‘documents you’ve sent to ESFA’ from the main Document Exchange page.

You can access the Document Exchange by logging into DfE Sign-In. If you don’t have access to Document Exchange but would like it, please speak to one of the super users within your organisation. If you’re unsure who this is, please speak to the head of the organisation.

4. Information: letter from the Education Secretary to the sector on the Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) improvement plan

The Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan MP, has written to the sector outlining her vision for the publication of the Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) Improvement Plan and her commitment to meet with families and organisations ahead of its publication early next year.

In the letter, she clarifies her commitment to improve the experiences of children and young people with SEND or in AP, within a fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable system across education, health and care. Ahead of the improvement plan being published, children and young people with SEND will benefit from wellbeing and technology support straight away, with new funding announced for educational psychologists and assistive technology. This money will continue to support the system to deliver change and continue to improve the outcomes and experiences of children and young people with SEND and those who need alternative provision.

To read the letter in full visit the Department for Education (DfE) Education Hub.

5. Information: free contract manager training pilot for schools

DfE are launching a new Contract Management Foundation Training pilot in Spring 2023.

This free pilot will test the Cabinet Office Foundation Level training with schools and MATs to understand if this is suitable in its current format. Participants will play an important role in helping identify any possible areas where the training can be improved to better meet schools’ needs.

The training is suitable for anyone within a school who has contract management responsibilities, not just those in a specific commercial role.

For further information and to express an interest, please send your name and job title to ESCC.PROJECT@education.gov.uk.

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

Are you responsible for buying goods and services for your school? The Schools Commercial Team (SCT) within the Department for Education is leading on the Buying for Schools programme; delivering services to support schools to buy goods and services.

The team are hosting free webinars on how using our approved frameworks could save you time and help your school get value for money. Our autumn programme wraps up with the webinars listed below. Click on the links to find out more and book your place:

• Buying tailor-made audit services for academies and schools – 6 Dec
• Buying catering services for your school through YPO – 6 Dec
• Buying or leasing multifunctional printing/scanning devices for your school – 7 Dec
• Buying legal services for your school – 8 Dec
• Buying education technology for your school – 8 Dec
• Buying catering services for your school through ESPO – 13 Dec

You can find the full programme of webinars for the remainder of the autumn term on the Autumn 2022 webinar page. Visit the page to find out more and book your place.