Correspondence

ESFA Update further education: 4 July 2018

Published 4 July 2018

This correspondence was withdrawn on 20 February 2020

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. Find the latest information from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) in the latest ESFA Update.

Applies to England

1. Information: 16 to 19 bursary fund

We have published an update to the institution guide for the 16 to 19 bursary fund for 2018 to 2019. The update includes:

• advice about how institutions may wish to use Universal Credit award notices where students/families provide these as evidence of household income as part of applications for the discretionary bursary

• a link to the key to success website which can be a useful way of identifying students who may potentially need help from the bursary fund but who may not ask for it

• a reminder for institutions that making flat rate bursary fund payment does not address individual need, as the bursary is designed to do - information about discretionary bursaries has been expanded to set this out more clearly

2. Information: 16 to 19 advanced maths premium

We have updated our advanced maths premium factsheet to show:

• how we will calculate baselines for new providers
• the funding rate for funding qualifications of 235 guided learning hours or above, completed within one year
• the qualifying period for students covered by the premium

We will contact institutions between 6 and 13 July to confirm their baseline data.

3. Information: apprenticeship technical funding guide

We have published version 4 of the technical guide to the apprenticeship funding system from 1 May 2017.

This explains how funding will work for apprenticeship frameworks and standards starting on or after 1 May 2017, including how we will calculate provider payments.

Version 4 includes information about transfers in the apprenticeship service and the new policy changes for new starts from 1 August 2018 (covering the care leavers bursary and the move to 30 funding bands).

For further information, please contact the service desk.

4. Information: in-year Qualification Achievement Rates for 2017 to 2018

We have released the in-year Qualification Achievement Rate (QAR) data for 2017 to 2018 on both the Hub and through the Business Intelligence (BI) dashboards. The in-year QAR briefing and QAR webpage provide details about this data release and accessing the dashboard.

We have also published the QAR data extract guidance for 2017 to 2018 and the BI dashboard guidance on the QAR webpage.

To access the data, please ensure you have the correct IDAMS user access. Please see the IDAMS user guides for creating access or checking your user permissions.

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

5. Information: 2017 to 2018 R10 reconciliation statements for independent learning providers

We have uploaded 2017 to 2018 individualised learner record R10 reconciliation statements for independent learning providers to the ESFA Information Exchange.

Your statement is available in the ‘Revenue Funding’ folder, under ‘AY 2017-18’. You can access the Document Exchange by logging into ESFA Information Exchange, and choosing the Document Exchange tab at the top of the page. For support and guidance about ESFA Information Exchange, please visit our support page.

If you have any questions about the 16 to 19 reconciliation process, please submit your query using the online enquiry form.

6. Information: section 96 and qualification queries - change of responsibility

We have updated the section 96 webpages on GOV.UK. As well as all the content from before, we have added an online search function, so you do not have to download the full qualification lists. The downloads will still be available.

Awarding organisations should send any queries to qualifications.ESFA@education.gov.uk. Institutions should send any queries to SDE.servicedesk@education.gov.uk.

7. Information: contacting providers delivering industry placements through the capacity and delivery fund in 2018 to 2019

We would like to make providers delivering industry placements through the capacity and delivery fund in 2018 to 2019 aware that our National Contact Centre are in the process of contacting them. This is to collect some data about their expected delivery of industry placements to help find suitable employer matches with providers. We would appreciate your support in providing these details. You can also contact the National Contact Centre to provide this information by calling 08000 150 600.

8. Information: adult education budget webinar

Due to high demand, we have arranged another date for the adult education budget webinar.

We will be holding the webinar on Tuesday, 17 July at 2.30pm to 4pm to introduce the revised rules and the changes for 2018 to 2019.

Please register with Eventbrite to confirm your place. 

9. Information: provide information about your banking and payments to DfE

We have published a new digital bank details capture form replacing a series of separate excel forms.

The new digital form replaces the:

• EFA and SFA suppliers’ bank details form (BAN1 forms)
• academy bank details form – for new and open academies
• DfE suppliers’ bank details form
  • change of bank account details
  • change of address or other information

The digital form is for use by:

• suppliers of goods and services
• providers of education and training, e.g. academies, colleges and training organisations

The form allows these organisations to securely register and amend the banking and payment information held by DfE. The security controls operated to verify changes and protect public monies remain unchanged.

10. Information: ESFA customer commitment

Many thanks to everyone who helped with the development of our customer commitment. We have now published our customer commitment statement on GOV.UK.

The commitment will help us to continuously improve our services. It shows you, our customers, how you can expect to see us work. It also helps us to increase our understanding of your needs and challenges, keeping our work customer focused.