EFA e-bulletin for academies: 17 September 2015
Published 17 September 2015
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/efa-e-bulletin-17-september-2015-issue-100/efa-e-bulletin-for-academies-17-september-2015
1. Action: My Contact Information launches on EFA Information Exchange
EFA has introduced a new My Contact Information feature within the EFA Information Exchange.
My Contact Information allows all EFA-funded institutions including academy trusts, schools, colleges, local authorities and other post-16 institutions to update their contact information quickly and efficiently. This will ensure that EFA always holds the most up to date information for your institution.
You can find out more about how to use My Contact Information on GOV.UK – please log in through your Secure Access account to check your details are correct.
1.1 Multi-academy trust contact information
EFA Information Exchange is set up for individual academies with separate accounts for multi-academy trusts. This means that individual academies that also lead a multi-academy trust will have 2 Secure Access accounts. You will need to log in separately to each account and supply contact information for both organisations.
If you need to request a new Secure Access account for your multi-academy trust, please complete a Secure Access service request selecting ‘I need a Secure Access account’.
If you don’t know who manages your Secure Access account, please complete a Secure Access service request selecting ‘I don’t know who the approver is for my organisation’.
2. Information: academy accounting officer letter
Peter Lauener, chief executive of the Education Funding Agency has written a letter to all accounting officers of academy, free school, UTC and studio school trusts.
The letter reflects on the accounting officer’s key responsibilities and highlights any changes. You are encouraged to share it with your trustees and senior leadership team.
3. Reminder: land and buildings valuation form
New academies must submit the land and buildings valuation form within 6 weeks of opening. Guidance is available on how the EFA prepares land and buildings valuations and how academies may use the valuations.
If your academy opened on or after 1 April 2015 and you have not yet completed the form, then please read the guidance and complete the online form as soon as possible.
4. Action: consultation on Schools and Early Years Finance (England) regulations 2015
EFA is seeking views on the School and Early Years Finance (England) Regulations 2015. The regulations will put in place arrangements for local authorities to set school budgets for the financial year 2016 to 2017. EFA published the schools block units of funding for 2016 to 2017 on 16 July 2015.
An outline of proposed changes is available in the draft School and Early Years Finance (England) Regulations 2015 and consultation document along with how you can respond.
The consultation period will run until 13 November 2015. Our intention is for the regulations to come into force in January 2016.
5. Information: primary PE and sport premium
EFA has published the primary PE and sport premium conditions of grant for local authorities and maintained schools, and academies. The conditions require primary schools to use the premium for additional and sustainable improvements to their PE and sport provision and to encourage healthy, active lifestyles.
6. Information: guidance on using cloud services
The Department for Education has produced guidance for schools using cloud services with information about how to ensure suppliers comply with the Data Protection Act.