Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 8 January 2020

Updated 8 January 2020

This correspondence was withdrawn on 29 December 2021

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date.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

Applies to England

1. Reminder: teachers’ pension employer contribution grant supplementary fund

Please forward this message on to maintained schools in your area.

A reminder that the window for mainstream schools and academies to submit their actual pensions costs if they wish to make claim for supplementary funding closes on Friday 17 January 2020. Claims from mainstream schools and academies will not be accepted after that date.

Supplementary funding is payable where the increase in those employer teachers’ pension costs exceeds the amount of the pensions grant by more than 0.05% of total budget.

You can submit a claim online.

Guidance notes on completing the form and more details about the supplementary fund are available.

2. Information: dedicated schools grant (DSG) for 2020 to 2021

The DSG allocations for local authorities for the 2020 to 2021 financial year have been confirmed.

We have published the allocations tables and supporting documents which show how much funding each local authority will receive, and how that funding has been calculated.

We will publish conditions of grant in the new year.

The DSG will continue to have 4 blocks:

• the schools block is allocated on the basis of the per-pupil units of funding announced in October 2019, plus funding for premises and growth
• the central school services block is allocated on the basis of the per-pupil rates, and historic commitments announced in October 2019
• the high needs block is based on the national funding formula announced in October 2019
• the early years block is allocated using the funding rates and calculations announced in October 2019

Further information is available in the:

• National funding formula tables for schools and high needs: 2020 to 2021
• Early years national funding formula: funding rates and guidance: 2020 to 2021

A small number of adjustments have been made to funding for historic commitments within the central school services block, protecting allocations from a reduction below the value of ongoing costs which local authorities have shown they would not have been able to unwind since 2013 to 2014. If any local authority believes that they are in this position they can contact FundingPolicy.QUERIES@education.gov.uk.

The government has also published its response to a consultation about implementing the minimum per pupil funding levels in the national funding formula on a mandatory basis in 5 to 16 school funding. This finalises the arrangements which local authorities must follow in 2020 to 2021 in providing this minimum funding to the relevant schools in their local area.

3. Information: pupil premium and other grants for 2020 to 2021

We will confirm funding rates for the pupil premium in the 2020 to 2021 financial year shortly.

The teachers’ pay grant will continue in the 2020 to 2021 financial year, as set out in in the teachers’ pay grant methodology document.

The teachers’ pension employer contribution grant (TPECG) will continue in the 2020 to 2021 financial year, as set out in the TPECG methodology document.

We will publish information about all other grants shortly.

4. Information: early years national funding formula (EYNFF) operational guidance for 2020 to 2021

We have now published the EYNFF operational guide that local authorities should follow when funding providers to deliver the early years entitlements in 2020 to 2021.

The guidance covers funding for:

• early years entitlement for disadvantaged 2-year-olds
• early years universal entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds
• early years additional entitlement for 3- and 4-year-old children of eligible working parents
• supplementary funding for maintained nursery schools (MNS)
• early years pupil premium (EYPP)
• disability access fund (DAF)

5. Information: update to high needs benchmarking tool

The updated high needs benchmarking tool includes the latest available data on provision for children and young people with SEND. It also shows the planned spending on high needs by local authorities, in a form that allows an authority to compare its data with that of other authorities.

The tool also shows how a local authority’s provisional allocation under the high needs national funding formula compares to that of other authorities.

We aim to develop the tool further in response to user-centered feedback. More information about local authorities’ high needs review and planning role is available in the latest high needs funding operational guide.

6. Information: 16 to 19 funding allocations 2020 to 2021

We have updated our 16 to 19 funding allocations information for academic year 2020 to 2021:

• our timeline lets you know when you can expect your allocations. We update the timeline on a regular basis, so do keep checking back to see the latest updates.
• we have confirmed the data sources for student numbers and other formula elements we’re using to calculating 2020 to 2021 allocation.
• we have published the page where you will find information to help you understand your allocation statement. You’ll start to see more information on here in late January.

If you have any queries please contact us using our online enquiry form.

7. Information: review of end year 16 to 19 study programmes data for 2017 to 2018

We have published the findings of our annual review of end-year 16 to 19 study programmes data for the 2017 to 2018 academic year.

Our findings this year again show that overall, the national funding formula is having the impact we expected on the delivery of 16 to 19 study programmes in the vast majority of institutions.

Where we have found non-standard delivery patterns we have produced some advice and guidance in this document. Therefore, please ensure you read this document as it includes the actions that institutions should take to address these findings.

This is the fifth annual review we have completed to ensure that public funding supports the core principles of study programmes.

8. Information: Quality in Careers Standard events

Is your school meeting its legal requirements on careers provision and supporting pupils to make informed choices about their futures?

The Department for Education (DfE) is funding 3 free to attend events for schools and colleges to learn more about externally validating their careers programme through the national Quality in Careers Standard.

These events involve testimonies from schools and colleges already holding the Standard and are hosted by the Quality in Careers National Director. They are intended for staff in schools and colleges that have not yet engaged with the Standard.

The event details, including the speakers from schools and colleges, have now been confirmed:

• Wednesday 4 March 2020, Newcastle upon Tyne
• Thursday 12 March 2020, Birmingham
• Tuesday 17 March 2020, Bristol

For more information and to book your free ticket, please visit the Quality in Careers website.

9. Information: free training for school leaders in integrated curriculum and financial planning

Free training is available on integrated curriculum and financial planning (ICFP) for all school leaders (headteachers, school business professionals, governors and other relevant school staff) and local authority officials.

ICFP is a process that helps schools plan the best curriculum for their pupils with the funding they have available.

This training will help to develop basic skills and knowledge of ICFP, and help you to feel comfortable with the key principles of ICFP so you can start using it in your school.

You can book onto the training now and sessions will run until the end of March 2020. Training will be delivered through webinars and half-day workshops, available across a range of time and locations to support accessibility.

To find out more and book a place on this course visit the Institute of School business Leaders (ISBL) website or email training@isbl.org.uk.

10. Information: advice on High Pressure Laminate systems

DfE wish to draw to the attention of building owners to advice on High Pressure Laminate (HPL) cladding, published previously by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, as part of its Building Safety Programme (BSP).

The advice is written for owners of residential buildings of 18 metres or more, although the principles may also apply to other building types.

BSP Advice Note 22, which sets out the action to be taken, is available on GOV.UK.