Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 17 May 2023

Published 17 May 2023

Applies to England

1. Action: 16 to 19 tuition fund 2023 to 2024 claim form- deadline 26 May 2023

The 16 to 19 tuition fund 2023 to 2024 opt in/out digital form is now live.

The deadline for your submission is 11:59pm on 26 May 2023.

We’ve published guidance to access and help you complete the form.

2. Reminder: local authority section 151 (S151) officer return certificate for the financial year 2022 to 2023

The deadline for submitting all funding forms and your section 151 (S151)/Chief Financial Officer certificate for the 2022 to 2023 financial year is 5pm on 19 May 2023.

The return for the 2022 to 2023 financial year is in an online format. This is now available to complete for pre-16 and post-16 funding.

Submit your section 151 officer return online.

The digital form can be accessed by multiple colleagues at the local authority at the same time. We encourage you to share this link with colleagues so that the grant funding lines can be completed directly. This avoids the need to collate the information centrally. Your S151 officer will have the opportunity to review all the data before the final declaration and submission.

Please note there will be no manual version emailed out to local authorities.

For more information and instructions on completing your return, read the guidance on GOV.UK.

3. Information: National Tutoring Programme payment update

The final payment for the 2022 to 2023 academic year will now be made on 1 June 2023. We apologise for the delay to the published timings.

Further details about the programme can be found on GOV.UK.

4. Information: PE and sports updated allocations 2023 to 2023 now available in the funding service

We have published the updated PE and sport premium allocations for 2022 to 2023 in the funding service. This covers the second instalment which is paid for April to August 2023. It replaces the previously published spreadsheet.

5. Information: payment profiles for academic year 2023 to 2024

In January we said we would confirm payment profiles for academic year 2023 to 2024. This is part of the reclassification of further education (FE) colleges, sixth form colleges and designated institutions in England to the public sector.

From academic year 2023 to 2024 onwards, we will pay allocations in 12 equal instalments to the following institutions receiving 16 to 19 and adult education budget grant funding. We already pay local authority maintained and academy sixth forms in this way.

There is no change to the advanced learner loans bursary, and we will still pay this in 3 instalments: 50% in August, 25% in January and 25% in April.

5.1 16 to 19 funding (including high needs)

  • FE colleges and all other FE institutions, including local authorities for their FE provision, independent learning providers and special post-16 institutions

5.2 Non-devolved adult grant funding

  • all grant funded institutions, including colleges and local authorities does not include independent learning providers

6. Information: capital funding for 2023 to 2024

Final school condition allocations (SCA) and devolved formula capital (DFC) for financial year 2023 to 2024 have now been published. This is part of £1.8 billion committed in 2023 to 2024 for improving the condition of the school estate.

The department published the provisional SCA) for local authorities, large multi-academy trusts and large voluntary aided school bodies at the end of March. Final allocations have been updated to take account of changes in the status of schools, such as movements between responsible bodies, closures and mergers.

Devolved formula capital (DFC) allocations for individual schools have also been updated. Final allocation amounts, spend guidance and the methodology used to calculate eligibility and allocations are all available on GOV.UK.

The outcomes of the 2023 to 2024 Condition Improvement Fund are expected to be announced shortly.

7. Information: updated financial assurance – monitoring post-16 funding for 2022 to 2023 guidance

We’ve made several changes to the monitoring plan based on provider feedback that will take effect from R09.

Focussing on specific issues, we’ve streamlined:

  • FRM28: planned hours for students who start in-year and complete or leave learning within their initial 6-week period
  • FRM30: students with more than 40 planned hours a week (legal limit)
  • FRM43: 16 to 19 study programme students on qualifications with no planned learning hours (includes all students)
  • FRM65: T Level industry placements below the minimum hours for the specialism (identifies this in year 2)

A new report split from FRM28 makes it easier to identify the issue:

  • FRM71: planned hours for continuing students who complete or leave learning within 6 weeks of the 6 September.

The change is because it is unlikely that students will be attending programmes during the summer holiday period, so this report helps ensure that hours are adjusted in-year and funding is not overclaimed.

We will no longer publish FRM02, 03 and 50.

8. Information: new DfE approved ICT frameworks

New DfE-approved ICT frameworks are now available on GOV.UK Find a Framework:

9. Information: stress and employee wellbeing workshop for RPA members

Willis Towers Watson is providing risk management support for all RPA members through audit, guidance and advice. As part of the risk management support, RPA members are invited to a workshop covering:

  • the impact of stress and poor mental health
  • vulnerability to stress and building individual resilience
  • organisational aspects of stress management
  • HSE Management Standards
  • control measures that contribute to a positive working environment and protect wellbeing

Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis for 25 May 2023.

10. Information: RPA members – book your place on this Regulatory Mock Trial

The Department for Education, in conjunction with Willis Towers Watson, has developed a bespoke training seminar, ‘The Regulatory Mock Trial’.

This workshop has been designed to assist governors, trustees, directors, and members of Senior Leadership Teams to understand the challenges they face in implementing compliant health and safety management systems, enhance the prospects of avoiding enforcement action and improve the school’s defensive capabilities where a prosecution is pursued.

Places are for RPA members only and will be allocated on a first come first served basis:

11. Information: Buying for Schools webinars – book your place now

Are you a school business professional who buys goods and services for your school?

We host regular webinars on how using our approved frameworks could help your school get value for money. Click on the links to find out more and book your place:

You can find the full programme of webinars for the summer term on the Summer 2023 webinar page. Visit the page to find out more and book your place.