Update: issue 364 (26 July 2017)
Updated 26 July 2017
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2017
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1. Regularity self-assessment questionnaire
Action
The Education and Skills Funding Agency has updated the regularity self-assessment questionnaire for colleges.
Sixth-form and further education colleges must complete this self-assessment and pass to their external auditor to inform the regularity assurance engagement.
2. Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) 16 to 24
Action
2016 to 2017
Please ensure that all data for starts relating to 2016 to 2017 is submitted by the R12 data cut off (Friday, 4 August). Following this we will reduce down all contracts (where applicable) to earned values. Data submitted following this will be capped and only funded where affordable.
2017 to 2018
The AGE programme ends for starts on Monday, 31 July. The last date to flag learners as requiring an AGE grant will be the R14 ILR return due by 19 October 2017.
Please ensure that any learners starting prior to 1 August 2017 are recorded with the correct LDM code by this date.
Please note, we will make no AGE payments on the 2017 to 2018 ILR data. You must submit final growth for 2017 to 2018 by Monday, 31 July.
If you have any queries, please email provider AGE management.
3. Advanced Learner Loans and Adult Education Budget funding rules 2017 to 2018 webinars
Information
We ran 3 webinars in July to support the publication of version 2 of the Advanced Learner Loans funding and performance management rules 2017 to 2018. We also ran 3 webinars in July to support the publication of version 1 of the Adult Education Budget funding rules 2017 to 2018.
A copy of both presentations can be found on GOV.UK:
If you have any queries, please email the Service Desk, or telephone: 0370 2670001.
4. Updated provider data self-assessment toolkit
Information
We have released an updated version of the provider data self-assessment toolkit (PDSAT) for the 2016 to 2017 funding year on the PDSAT section of GOV.UK.
The PDSAT assists colleges and training organisations with their routine ILR data-checking procedures for data returns in 2016 to 2017.
Maintaining all existing features, this version incorporates the new apprenticeship programme for starts on or after 1 May 2017.
For further information, please email pdsat ESFA.
5. Changes to adult apprenticeships payment arrangements for providers funded through a grant
As set out in our apprenticeships: common funding and performance-management rules for 2016 to 2017, from 1 August 2017, we will pay for adult apprenticeships on the basis of your actual delivery using the latest validated ILR and EAS data you provide.
This means you will not receive a profile payment in August for apprentices that started their learning before 1 May 2017 (carry-in learners). You will be paid in August for your non-levy apprenticeship delivery on the basis of data returned in July.
If you have any queries, please contact your provider manager.
6. Submission of estimated exceptional learning support (ELS) costs for 2017 to 2018
Action
You must submit an estimated cost for learners who require ELS in 2017 to 2018 for approval using the cost form on GOV.UK. Please send completed ELS cost forms to exceptional learning support claims.
For further information on claiming exceptional learning support please refer to the adult education budget funding rules 2017 to 2018 or visit the exceptional learning support page on GOV.UK.
7.Update on procurement for non-levy paying employers
Information
We will launch the new procurement for apprenticeship training provision for non-levy-paying employers in the next few days.
The new procurement will ensure we achieve the best value for employers, providers and apprentices in the move to a fully employer-led system.
To help you prepare for the opening of the procurement, our narrated presentation sets out some further details on the new exercise.
Apprenticeships training procurement narrated presentation
As a reminder, while the new procurement exercise is open, the register of apprenticeship training providers will not re-open for new applications.
This procurement will not affect training provision for existing learners.
8. Amendments to apprenticeship framework funding bands
Information
We have published an updated version of the apprenticeship frameworks: funding bands from May 2017 document.
We are revising 29 funding bands for framework pathways to ensure providers can deliver quality training and employers are getting value for money.
- 26 funding bands are increasing and the new funding band will be applied for new starts from 1 August 2017
- 3 funding bands are decreasing and the new funding band will be applied for new starts from 1 October 2017
A list of the amendments are detailed in this document.
We will update the Learning Aims Search on the Hub in the week commencing 7 August 2017 with the new funding bands.
For further information, please contact the service desk.