Correspondence

ESFA Update academies: 6 December 2023

Published 6 December 2023

Applies to England

1. Action: submit your in year spend report if you have 16 to 19 tuition funding in academic year 2023 to 2024  

The form opens on 3 January 2024 at 9am. It is important that you complete and submit your return as this is part of your funding requirements.  

After the closing date for returns we will consider whether there is scope to increase some institutions’ allocations as we did in academic year 2022 to 2023. If we do, only institutions that have submitted a return and forecast spending 100% of their allocation will be eligible to receive additional funding. 

If you are forecasting spending 100% of your tuition fund allocation and believe you could deliver more tutoring within this academic year if your allocation was increased, please indicate this on your form. 

We will publish guidance to help you access and complete the form at the same time the form goes live. The submission deadline is 5pm on 26 January 2024. We will write to you again as a reminder.  

You can read more information regarding the tuition fund and conditions of funding on GOVUK.

2. Information: increased tutoring support for pupils with SEND

Last year, we broadened the scope of the National Tutoring Programme (NTP) to include alternative tutoring interventions for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in mainstream and non-mainstream settings. 

Schools can use NTP funding for alternative types of established, evidence-underpinned interventions for pupils with SEND, which can be tailored and targeted to meet individual needs in areas such as:

• learning capabilities
• sensory development
• communication (including speech and language therapy)

In addition, non-mainstream schools receive a higher rate of funding for tutoring - a minimum of £176.25 per pupil premium eligible pupil, compared to £67.50 per pupil premium eligible pupil for mainstream schools.

You can use your NTP grant to pay for 50% of the total cost of tutoring, subject to the maximum hourly per-pupil rate. The hourly per pupil rates are £47 for non-mainstream schools, or £18 in mainstream schools, to reflect the higher likelihood of small group or specialist tutoring for pupils with SEND.

3. Information: accounts submission coversheet virtual assistant

We’ve developed a virtual assistant which you can ask advice on submitting your audited financial statements, auditor’s management letter and your annual summary internal scrutiny report for the accounting period ending 31 August 2023.

This virtual assistant is a computer-based conversation that has been developed using the most common questions raised by trusts and external auditors, in relation to the Accounts Submission Coversheet. The assistant will give an immediate answer to the most commonly asked questions and speed up the time to respond to queries. 

Trusts and external auditors can ask our virtual assistant about the submission requirements, passwords and signatures.

4. Information: RPA Members only: School Trips Workshop

Willis Towers Watson is providing risk management support for all RPA members through audit, guidance and advice. As part of the risk management support, RPA members are invited to a workshop covering:

• The laws and risks associated with school trips, including a case study highlighting what can go wrong
• Procedures and control measures that need to be implemented to ensure the risks are reduced to an acceptable level

Sessions are available on:

• 11 January 2023
• 24 January 2023

5. Information: SuDS for schools – environmentally friendly flood prevention

In our latest Buying for schools blog post Amy Greenough, DfE’s project lead for the Schools Water Strategy, talks about the sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) projects her team has worked on in partnership with water companies and Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFA) to reduce the surface water flood risk across the school estate.

To find out more, read Amy’s blog on GOV.UK.

6. Information: eligible settings can request a free portrait of His Majesty The King

This is a reminder for all eligible settings to request their free portrait of His Majesty the King Charles III. 

The government launched a voluntary scheme inviting all state-funded schools, colleges and maintained nursery schools in the UK to receive one free portrait of His Majesty The King to celebrate his reign earlier this year.

Eligible settings can now request their free portrait, with the deadline for requests by Friday 2 February 2024.

Request a free portrait for your setting.

Trusts can order portraits on behalf of their schools. Please refer to the FAQs for details or any specific questions about the portrait and the scheme itself.

Any queries relating to His Majesty The King’s portrait scheme should be directed to hmkportraitscheme@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.