Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 8 March 2023

Published 8 March 2023

Applies to England

1. Information: section 251 budget collection 2023 to 2024

The section 251 budget data collection exercise for 2023 to 2024 is now live. The deadline for submission of the section 251 budget return is 28 April 2023.

We’ve published information about how to complete the section 251 budget collection 2023 to 2024.

2. Information: ESFA adult education budget (AEB) funding and performance management rules 2023 to 2024

We’ve published version 1 of the rules today. They apply to all providers of education and training who receive AEB funding from ESFA.

A full breakdown of the changes is included in the ‘what’s new’ section of the rules. We have:

• amended and clarified a number of areas in the residency eligibility section
• amended the delivery strands which link to the community learning objectives
• updated both the unemployed and learners in receipt of low wage sections to allow for the adjustment to the administrative earnings thresholds with DWP
• updated the traineeship section to reflect that traineeship provision will be integrated into adult education provision from 1 August 2023 due to the closure of the national traineeship programme

3. Information: adult education budget (AEB) 2023 to 2024 funding of work experience

We are working to integrate the core elements of the traineeship programme for learners aged 19 to 24 into the AEB including work experience.

Key features of funding arrangements for work experience are set out below:

• we will fund work experience for eligible learners aged 19 to 24 for a minimum of 70 hours and a maximum of 240 hours per eligible learner
• in principle we expect that the work experience funding rates will align with the unweighted base rates in the Single Activity Matrix according to the length in hours of the planned work experience placement however they may vary slightly
• in order to claim funding for work experience, eligible learners must complete at least one other learning aim from the AEB offer, for example English and maths or Digital entitlements or a vocational qualification alongside the work experience element

This is a transitional offer for the 2023 to 2024 academic year as. We will review how it operates to decide its future from the 2024 to 2025 academic year.

4. Information: advanced learner loans (ALL) funding rules for 2023 to 2024

We have published version 1 of the ALL funding rules for funding year 2023 to 2024.

There are no significant changes from version 2 2022 to 2023 published in May 2022.

The rules apply to all providers of education and training who hold a loans agreement with ESFA.

We expect to publish the performance management in version 2 in late spring. If you have any queries on these rules, please contact us through our enquiry form.

5. Information: maximum loan amounts for Advanced Learner Loans 2023 to 2024

We have published the maximum loan amounts guide for funding year 2023 to 2024.

This document confirms we have maintained the same maximum loan amounts for qualifications that we designated for loans in 2022 to 2023.

If you have any queries on these rules, please contact us through our enquiry form.

6. Information: apprenticeship non-levy procured allocations from 1 April 2023

We will shortly be extending apprenticeship non-levy procured contracts to cover the 2023 to 2024 financial year.

These allocations will include funding to cover the carry in costs of learners who started on or before 31 March 2021. From 1 April 2021, all new apprenticeship starts are funded via the Apprenticeship Service.

Allocations will be issued in a digital format on Manage your education and skills funding (MyESF), replacing PDF letter. Information previously contained in the letters will be available in the technical guidance on 19+ funding allocations page. There are no changes to how you access the allocation statement on Manage your education and skills funding (MYESF).

You need one of the following roles to view your allocation statement:

• contract authoriser
• contract manager
• contract user
• data returns and claims authoriser

You can request a new role through the Identity and Access Management Service (IDAMs) or by asking your organisations super user.

Allocation statements are now available on Manage your education and skills funding (MYESF). Contract extensions will be issued in early of March.

Training providers must ensure they have signed the contract extension before the current contract expires on 31 March 2023.

Please visit Get help with Education and Skills Funding Agency services or use the web form if you have any queries.

7. Information: free webinars on buying electricity and mains gas for your school

On Thursday 16 March, the Schools Commercial Team (SCT) team are hosting two free webinars on buying electricity and gas for your school. Join us and find out how you could save yourself time and help your school get value for money. Click on the links to book your place:

• Buying electricity and mains gas for your school through West Mercia Energy
• Buying electricity and mains gas for your school through ESPO

8. Information: are you looking to buy cloud-based computing services for your school?

Sign up for this free webinar and find out everything you need to know about the CCS Digital marketplace (G-Cloud 13) framework including information on:

• the services covered by the framework
• the choice of solutions
• how to access the framework and use the service

It will also be an opportunity to ask any questions you may have directly to the provider.

Book your place now.

9. Information: buying quality school meals using DfE-approved frameworks

International School Meals Day 2023 is on 9 March and as we celebrate, you might be thinking about retendering your own catering contracts ready for the next academic year. You can use our Find a Framework tool to explore the range of DfE-approved frameworks that offer catering solutions.

In our latest Buying for Schools blog post, Charlotte Springthorpe, Customer Relationship Manager at Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO), highlights two new, DfE-approved, ESPO catering frameworks.