Correspondence

EFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges, local authorities and other 16 to 19 providers: 04 February 2016

Published 5 February 2016

This correspondence was withdrawn on 20 December 2019

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. The EFA e-bulletin has been replaced by ESFA Update

1. Information: post-16 student number statements relating to 2016 to 2017 allocations

We are in the process of uploading post-16 student number statements and a toolkit for academies and maintained schools to EFA Information Exchange. We expect these files to be available by the end of Friday 5 February 2016.

We will upload all files to the ‘revenue funding’ folder under ‘AY 2016-17 (2016/17)’ in the Document Exchange section of EFA Information Exchange.

We expect most of the final 2016 to 2017 allocation statements to be available by the end of February.

Information about how we calculate your post-16 allocation is available on GOV.UK. If you have any queries about the figures or calculations in your student number statement, please contact us via our online enquiry form. We will only accept business cases relating to the data within your statement in March 2016.

If you have any issues accessing Information Exchange please read our guidance on GOV.UK. This includes information about how to submit a support request.

2. Information: formula protection funding

In Peter Mucklow’s letter to the sector on funding for academic year 2016 to 2017 we said we would publish further guidance on how formula protection funding will be implemented for 2016 to 2017. The guidance is now available on GOV.UK.

3. Information: final reconciliation statements to all ILR-funded institutions

We have now issued final reconciliation statements to all Individualised Learner Record (ILR) funded institutions through their Information Exchange account. This is as described in paragraph 14 of the ILR funding returns document.

Contract institutions subject to reconciliation statements were issued in November 2015 and grant-in-aid institutions were issued in February 2016. The statements can be found in the following folder location: Revenue Funding > AY 2014-15.

Support and further information about EFA Information Exchange is available on GOV.UK.

4. Information: financial planning handbook: survey for colleges

Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and Education Funding Agency (EFA) are revising the financial planning handbook and template for further education and sixth-form colleges for the 2016 to 2018 period.

We have created a short survey for colleges to help us improve the documents. The survey is open until 19 February 2016.

5. Information: special educational needs and disability (SEND) implementation grant for 2016 to 2017

The Department for Education (DfE) has published the SEND implementation grant allocations for 2016 to 2017. This funding is to support local authorities in the transition to the new SEND system as part of the government’s commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable children.

6. Action: asbestos in schools: data collection

We have published a short online form to collect data on the management of asbestos in schools. The form is for all headteachers to complete. Schools will receive immediate feedback and advice based on their responses.

The deadline for responses is Friday 29 February 2016.

This survey follows the Department for Education’s review in March 2015 of its policy on the management of asbestos in schools.

The outcomes from the review included:

• the issuing of updated guidance, Managing asbestos in your school, and
• a call for a clearer picture of how schools across the country manage asbestos in their buildings

7. Information: Educate Against Hate

The Educate Against Hate website was launched on 19 January 2016. The website offers practical advice to parents, teachers and school leaders on protecting children from extremism and radicalisation.

The Education and Training Foundation website provides information and resources for further education and training providers.

8. Information: essential school maintenance – a guide for schools

Essential school maintenance – a guide for schools has been published providing advice to schools on a range of subjects relating to the effective maintenance of school buildings.

The guide is aimed at those with responsibilities for maintaining school buildings, including:

• headteachers
• business managers
• facilities managers