Correspondence

Update: issue 403 ( 23 May 2018)

Updated 23 May 2018

This correspondence was withdrawn on 17 February 2020

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date.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. 2018 to 2019 apprenticeships carry-in allocations

Action

We will work out your 2018 to 2019 apprenticeships carry-in allocation using your May (R10) data submission and issue it in July 2018. Please ensure you submit full and timely data at R10 as this will improve the accuracy of the allocation we work out for you.

Your allocation will include funding for apprentices that will not have completed their apprenticeship by 31 July and that started:

1. before 1 May 2017 (under the old funding system)
2. with non-levy employers between 1 May and 31 December 2017
3. with non-levy employers between 1 January and 31 March 2018 (for providers that were offered a 3 month run-down extension)

If you have any queries, please contact your provider manager.

2. Technical guidance for providers taking part in the career learning pilot

Information

There are 5 areas (Heart of South West, Greater Lincolnshire, Stoke/Staffordshire, Leeds City and the West Midlands) participating in the career learning pilot. The pilot is testing the impact of subsidising advanced learner loans qualifications and the results will inform development of the National Training Scheme as announced in the Autumn Budget 2017.

For those providers taking part in the pilot, we have published version 1 of the 2018 to 2019 career learning pilot technical guidance. This sets out the principles of the funding system.

If you have any feedback on this document please email the service desk and ask for it to be assigned to the ‘ESFA FST – Calculations’ group.

3. Updated apprenticeship funding policy

Information

On 17 May, government published a new apprenticeships funding policy to come into effect on 1 August 2018.

It updates the policy that has been in place since May 2017. The policy explains how government will fund apprenticeship training in England from August 2018 and will apply to all employers, both those paying the levy and those who do not. The following sections of the policy document contain changes:

1. Funding bands
2. Transitional support for providers training 16 to 18 year olds on frameworks
3. Additional payments for individuals
4. Transfers

We will shortly publish new funding rules, reflecting the updated policy, which will apply to 2018 to 2019.

4. Apprenticeship funding band structure

Information

Following our consideration of the current funding band structure, we have decided to move to a new 30 band structure for new starts from August 2018. This new structure will include more bands, with smaller increments between bands. The upper limit of the highest funding band will remain at £27,000.

We are working with the Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) to ensure that any new standards that are approved for delivery are allocated to one of the 15 current funding bands, which will apply until August, and to one of the new 30 funding bands, to take effect from August. For more information, read the new [apprenticeships funding policy(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-funding-from-may-2017) paper.

5. AELP National Conference 2018, sponsored by NCFE

Information

Hear from our Chief Executive, Eileen Milner and Keith Smith, Director of Apprenticeships at this year’s AELP conference.

The year’s conference will be held on 25 & 26 June 2018 at the Novotel London West in Hammersmith. The event includes a range of workshop presentations, including 28 topics delivered over the two days.

To register and for more details please visit: www.aelpnationalconference.org.uk. Full AELP members receive one complimentary place.