Correspondence

EFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges, local authorities and other 16 to 19 providers: 26 February 2015

Published 26 February 2015

This correspondence was withdrawn on

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. The EFA e-bulletin has been replaced by ESFA Update.

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/efa-e-bulletin-26-february-2015-issue-80/efa-e-bulletin-for-schools-colleges-local-authorities-and-other-16-to-19-providers-26-february-2015

1. Information: Residential Bursary Fund - guidance for the 2015 to 2016 academic year

Education Funding Agency (EFA) has published the Residential Bursary Fund guidance for the 2015 to 2016 academic year.

The guide provides information to all institutions receiving 16 to 18 Residential Bursary Fund allocations in the 2015 to 2016 academic year. It sets out the requirements for the administration of the funding and describes how we will collect monitoring information for the scheme.

2. Information: Demographic Growth Capital Fund

The Department for Education recently announced the successful conclusion of the Demographic Growth Capital Fund (DGCF). Information about DGCF is available on GOV.UK.

3. Information: re-appointment of Capita to manage a range of student support schemes

EFA, following a competitive process, has re-appointed Capita to manage a range of schemes designed to help young people and adults improve their education, skills and training. The new contract runs until 2018.

Capita will operate 3 main schemes on behalf of EFA and the Skills Funding Agency, which are:

  • Care to Learn, which provides financial support towards childcare and travel costs to young parents who want to continue or return to learning
  • the Bursary Fund for vulnerable students, which helps the most financially disadvantaged 16 to 19 year olds meet the costs of education or training
  • professional and career development loans, which provide adults with commercial lending from Barclays Bank or the Co-operative Bank

From May 2015 the administration of the support schemes will transfer from the current Learner Support Service (LSS) to the new Student Bursary Support Service (SBSS).

The changes are being made to migrate from hard-copy applications and claims to an online, digital service to ensure the above schemes are easier to use and are more accessible and responsive for educational institutions, childcare providers and for students.

More details can be found on GOV.UK.

Regular updates will be provided in these e-bulletins to inform and support providers through these changes in lead up to go-live in May.

4. Information: spring school census 2015

The spring school census 2015 collection database will close on Wednesday 11 March 2015. A number of files are currently at the ‘loaded and validated’ or ‘amended by source’ status in COLLECT. The ‘submit’ button must be pressed to allow the department access to the data.

Pupil premium funding reports are available for schools to run from the reports section of the school census COLLECT blade. Schools should ensure these reports are checked and verified in conjunction with local finance officers before the database closes as amendments will not be possible afterwards.

We have produced a short training video providing a general overview of the school census. It details how to access COLLECT, navigate the system, add notes, submit returns and run reports.

5. Contacts

All 16 to 19 providers can get in touch with the EFA through the relevant territorial inbox, unless a different email address is specified in an article.

16 to 19 providers - northern territory

For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in north west, north east and Yorkshire and the Humber with queries for the Education Funding Agency

16 to 19 providers - central and south west territory

For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in south west, west midlands and east midlands with queries for the Education Funding Agency

16 to 19 providers - southern territory

For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in south east, east of England and London with queries for the Education Funding Agency

Academies should contact the Academy Enquiries Service.

EFA questions

For schools, local authorities, other education institutions and providers, accountants, auditors and other professional advisers with queries for the Education Funding Agency

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