Guidance

EFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges and other 16 to 19 providers: 31 July 2014

Published 31 July 2014

This guidance was withdrawn on

This is an old edition of the EFA e-bulletin, so has been archived. Please view our most recent e-bulletins and web pages for up-to-date information.

1. Information: Education Services Grant (ESG) 2015 to 2016

The Department for Education has published the Education Services Grant: statement of final arrangement for 2015 to 2016 setting out the government’s decisions on the ESG rates and protections for 2015 to 2016.

2. Information: high needs funding arrangements - additional information

Education Funding Agency (EFA) has issued a further update to the 16 to 25 high needs funding additional information document, to include details on funding arrangements for the 2015 to 2016 academic year.

The new version lists any significant updates made since the last edition in the introduction pages.

If you have any queries on this document, please contact your EFA territorial mailbox in the usual manner.

3. Information: new special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice approved by Parliament

Parliament has now approved the new 0 to 25 special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice. The new code is statutory and comes into force in September 2014.

It is essential that governors or trustees, teaching and non-teaching staff, understand what the reforms mean for them. To help you prepare, the Department for Education has developed a presentation pack for school leaders in partnership with the teaching unions.

In addition, the new SEND gateway provides easy access to high quality information and resources to help educational professionals prepare for the reforms.

4. Information: publication of 14 to 16 in further education requirements and advice for 2014 to 2015 academic year

The requirements and advice document for the delivery of the 14 to 16 in FE programme in the 2014 to 2015 academic year was published on the 18 July.

EFA invited colleges to express an interest in delivering the programme via the 15 May EFA e-bulletin. Colleges interested in the delivering the programme in future should review the requirements and advice document and contact the relevant EFA territorial mailbox for further information.

5. Information: Secretary of State approved list of independent education institutions, independent special schools and special post-16 institutions - spring application process outcomes

The Children and Families Act 2014 allows the Secretary of State to create a list of approved independent special institutions for the purposes of satisfying Section 38 (preparation of an education, health and care plan by local authorities) of the act.

The names of those institutions that will appear on the list will be shared with local authorities, via the EFA Document Exchange, during early August. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by 31 July 2014.

For those independent education institutions, independent special schools and special post-16 institutions, who have not applied but wish to do so within the autumn term application process, revised guidance and supporting information will be available on GOV.UK in September, and will include:

  • application process guidance for institutions applying for inclusion on the list, including institutions in scope and eligibility criteria

  • application form and supporting guidance, including details of the information to be completed and supporting evidence required for submission

6. Information: traineeships funding reform technical consultation 2015 to 2016

Colleges, training organisations and employers with an interest in traineeships are invited to take part in the traineeships funding reform technical consultation, which closes on Thursday 14 August.

This is a joint consultation from the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. It offers a broad set of proposals for how the government could fund traineeships for the academic year 2015 to 2016.

Thank you to all those who have already taken part; we will announce the results in autumn 2014.

For further information, please refer to GOV.UK or email Traineeships.CONSULTATION@education.gsi.gov.uk.

7. Information: future of apprenticeships consultation update

This consultation received an excellent rate of response. Over 1,400 of you shared your views. EFA is carrying out a thorough analysis of your feedback and will publish results in the autumn, in line with the timetable set out in the consultation.

In the meantime, an initial consideration of your feedback has identified a number of common questions, on which EFA can offer some clarification. These can be found at future of apprenticeships in England: guidance for trailblazers.

8. EFA contacts

All 16 to 19 providers can get in touch with 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:

EFA questions

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