Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 18 May 2022

Published 18 May 2022

This correspondence was withdrawn on 27 December 2023

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. Read the latest editions of ESFA Update for the latest news and information.

Applies to England

1. Action: apply for a grant to train a senior mental health lead

This financial year, a further two-thirds of all eligible institutions in England will have the opportunity to benefit from quality assured senior mental health lead training, backed by an additional £7 million in training grants.

We have published guidance on how to access and apply for your grant.

For more information about the grant, read the senior mental health training lead guidance.

2. Reminder: the coronavirus (COVID-19) 16 to 19 tuition fund 2022 to 2023 claim form

The coronavirus (COVID-19) 16 to 19 tuition fund 2022 to 2023 form is live.

The deadline for your submission is 11.59pm on Friday 27 May 2022.

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

You can read more in the coronavirus (COVID-19) 16 to 19 tuition fund guidance 2022 to 2023.

3. Reminder: the coronavirus (COVID-19) workforce fund claim form is open

Please cascade this information to your maintained schools.

Eligible schools and colleges can now submit a claim for the cost of absences experienced between Monday 22 November 2021 and Friday 8 April 2022.

We have published guidance on how to complete the claim form.

The deadline for submitting a claim is 11.59pm on Tuesday 24 May 2022.

Further information on the COVID-19 workforce fund is available in our guidance for schools and colleges.

4. Reminder: year-end forecast funding claim for 2021 to 2022

The year-end forecast funding claim window will open at 9am on Friday 10 June 2022. Please submit your year-end funding claim by 4pm on Wednesday 15 June 2022. The claim form will be available on Submit Learner Data.

You will need to submit a claim if you receive funds through these contracts:

• grant funded – ESFA adult education budget (AEB) (adult Skills, community learning, 19 to 24 traineeships and National Schools Fund (NSF) level 3 adult offer (for learners aged 23 or under))
• grant funded – ESFA NSF level 3 adult offer (for learners aged 24 or over)
• grant funded – advanced learner loans bursary (ALLB)
• 16 to 19 education

For more information, please see the 2021 to 2022 funding claims guidance. There is a user guide to help you complete the form.

Once you have submitted your claim you will also be able to view it on the Manage your education and skills funding.

If you have any queries, please contact us.

5. Information: cybersecurity schools audit 2022

The National Cyber Security Centre and the London Grid for Learning have launched the cybersecurity schools audit 2022 to help assess the risk to schools in the light of increasing numbers of cyber-attacks and the rapid expansion of school IT networks to cope with the demand for remote learning while responding to COVID-19.

This audit builds on the 2019 cybersecurity schools audit, which examined the challenges that schools face and the strength of their defences against those challenges.

Better data will help DfE to target resources better to helps schools combat the growing threat of cyber-attacks. Please help us by taking part in the survey here before Tuesday 31 May 2022.

6. Information: join these webinars on approved frameworks and see how you could save money for your school

The Department for Education (DfE) is hosting webinars on how using our approved frameworks could help your school get value for money.

If you are responsible for buying goods and services for your schools, check out the range of informative webinars that could help you save time and money.

All sessions are free, use these Eventbrite links to join the Schools Commercial Team and take the opportunity to ask providers the questions you may have:

• YPO internal fit-out – 24 May

• CCS print marketplace – 24 May

Follow our ‘Buying for Schools’ LinkedIn page to learn more about how we can support your school to buy goods and services.

7. Information: removal of role in Manage your education and skills funding service

The provider support user role in Manage your education and skills funding is redundant and we will remove this shortly. If you only have this role, you will no longer be able to log in. There are no changes to any other roles.

If you have any questions, please contact the Help Centre .

8. Information: join a Schools White Paper: Opportunity for all webinar

The Schools White Paper: Opportunity for all: strong schools with great teachers for your child was published on 28 March 2022. The white paper demonstrates how our education system can deliver on the government’s priority to level up across the country. The economic benefits of meeting the white paper’s ambitions, and the case for a fully trust led system, are also set out.

These webinars are open to local authority maintained schools and provide the opportunity to hear more from your Regional Schools Commissioner about the white paper and what it could mean for you.

• Lancashire and West Yorkshire: Schools White Paper Webinar, 26 May, 10.30am
• South West England: Schools White Paper Webinar, 25 May, 1.30pm
• West Midlands: Schools White Paper Webinar, 25 May, 3.30pm
• East Midlands and the Humber: Schools White Paper Webinar, 8 June, 10am
• North West London South Central England: Schools White Paper Webinar, 8 June, 10.30am
• North of England: Schools White Paper Webinar, 9 June, 4pm
• South East England and South London: Schools White Paper Webinar, 16 June, 2.30pm
• East of England and North East London: Schools White Paper Webinar, 23 June, 3.30pm.

Although events are organised regionally, they are virtual and will cover the same material, so you are welcome to attend the time that suits you best. Please register using the links above.

9. Information: Adult education budget (AEB) funding rules 2021 to 2022 update: National Skills Fund level 3 offer for 19 to 23-year-old learners

The performance management section of the funding rules clarifies the use of the LDM code 378, to record 19 to 23-year-old learners’ delivery for all National Skills Fund level 3 offer when you submit ILR data.

10. Information: reminder to consider the Parent Pledge when reviewing budgets for the current financial year

We understand that many local authorities will be currently reviewing budget submissions from their schools for the current financial year. We would encourage reviewers to consider how schools are budgeting considering the Parent Pledge, published as part of last month’s Schools White Paper. The Parent Pledge sets out a commitment that any child who falls behind in English or maths will get support to help them catch up, and that schools will keep parents updated on their child’s progress. We know that most schools and trusts are already doing this, but for some it will be a shift in approach.

School leaders are best placed to understand the needs of their pupil cohorts and have the flexibility to prioritise their spending to support those needs. We have encouraged schools to review funding and support available to them, including funding through the pupil premium and the National Tutoring Programme.

The Secretary of State for Education has separately contacted all schools requesting that those who have not yet started to offer tutoring do so as soon as possible. He is also keen to ensure all schools are planning for tutoring next year and from September all tutoring funding will be allocated directly to schools. We will shortly be sharing further information with schools on the NTP funding they will receive for 2022 to 2023 academic year, to support them to develop a tutoring offer for their pupils for next year.