Correspondence

ESFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges, local authorities and other 16 to 19 providers: 12 October 2017

Published 13 October 2017

This correspondence was withdrawn on 23 December 2019

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. The EFA e-bulletin has been replaced by ESFA Update.

Applies to England

1. Action: Individualised Learner Record (ILR) R14 2016 to 2017 and ILR final claims 2016 to 2017

The ILR R14 data collection window for 2016 to 2017 will close on 19 October, at 6pm. If you are due to make a return for R14, you must submit your data to the Hub.

You should return all Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) ILR signed final claim reports for 2016 to 2017 through the ESFA Information Exchange and the funding out-turn value must match your final ILR submission.

We will use R14 data for all independent learning providers (ILPs formerly known as commercial and charitable providers) to update the funding reconciliation values previously determined from your ILR R13 data. We expect to issue revised R14 ILP reconciliation statements by the end of November. Where appropriate, these will show planned clawback recovery in December. We will also update responsive growth values after receipt of all R14 data and final claim returns which remain subject to ESFA budget affordability.

2. Information: maths and English condition of funding: extension to the tolerance

It has been confirmed we will continue to apply the current tolerance level of 5% from 2017 to 2018 academic year until further notice. You can find more information on the tolerance is available on GOV.UK.

We have updated the table on GOV.UK showing what students can and must study. It is now clearer that English literature qualifications at grades 4 to 9 also count for prior attainment to meet the condition of funding.

3. Information: high needs funding: due diligence process for special post-16 providers

We have published the high needs funding: due diligence process for special post-16 providers guidance.

This guidance explains the process that may lead to a grant funding arrangement with the Education Skills and Funding Agency (ESFA).

In order to be eligible to receive ESFA funding, special post-16 institutions (SPI) are required to be included within their home LA high needs place change workbook (required by 17 November 2017) and must be named on at least 10 Education Health and Care plans.

Once they have met the above requirement, the ESFA will undertake due diligence to ensure themselves that the SPI is eligible to receive ESFA funding.

4. Information: update to 2017 to 2018 dedicated schools grant allocations

We have published updated dedicated schools grant (DSG) allocations for the 2017 to 2018 financial year.

We have updated the allocations for the maintained nursery school element of the DSG to reflect the January 2017 census data and outcome of the data assurance exercise on 2016 to 2017 section 251 budget returns.

We have also updated the allocations for the Disability Access Fund element of the DSG based on the latest Disability Living Allowance claimant data from November 2016.

5. Information: final 2017 to 2018 education services grant transitional grant allocations

We have published the final education services grant (ESG) transitional grant allocations for the 2017 to 2018 financial year.

6. Information: school improvement monitoring and brokering grant final allocations

We have published the final allocations for the school improvement monitoring and brokering grant.

This grant allows local authorities to continue to monitor and broker school improvement for low-performing maintained schools. The published allocations cover the period September 2017 to March 2018.

7. Information: national funding formula (NFF) reports on COLLECT

Following the publication of the local authority reports that show the step-by-step calculations for the schools national funding formula, we have now published the reports for schools. The reports are available via the COLLECT system.

Local authorities will be able to access the reports for their own schools, but can submit a request to see the reports for schools nationally. You can find information about submitting a request in the information tab within the impact of the schools NFF publication table.

8. Information: choices at 16 questionnaire

With the introduction of T-levels on the way, this is a good time to look at how students make their post-16 choices and consider how best DfE services can support their decision making.

Our short survey will help us understand your views on students entering 16+ education and making career choices. We will also use this questionnaire to recruit the user base for follow-up research e.g. phone interviews.