Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 2 December 2020

Published 2 December 2020

This correspondence was withdrawn on

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date.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

Applies to England

1. Latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19)

The Department for Education has published guidance about COVID-19 in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students on GOV.UK.

Please check GOV.UK regularly for updates.

2. Reminder: new providers applying for the industry placements - Capacity and Delivery Fund (CDF) from the 2021 to 2022 academic year

On 10 November, we published guidance for the delivery of industry placements – Capacity and Delivery Fund (CDF) from the 2021 to 2022 academic year. This guidance also includes information on how providers not currently in receipt of CDF can apply for funding. For the 2021 to 2022 academic year, there is no minimum Ofsted grade threshold for applicants, which means that any providers delivering vocational and technical qualifications will be able to apply.

The window for applications for the delivery of CDF from the 2021 to 2022 academic year closes at midnight on Tuesday 8 December 2020.

CDF was introduced to enable providers to build capacity and capability in preparation for the delivery of T Level style industry placements. As T Level delivery increases over the next three years, industry placements delivered through CDF will be gradually phased out. The guidance explains in full the delivery arrangements for CDF for the 2021 to 2022 academic year, and how and when the fund will be wound down as placements start to be delivered and funded within the T Levels instead of alongside existing qualifications.

3. Reminder: R04 individualised learner record (ILR) data return

The R04 ILR data return closes on Friday 4 December. It is important that you submit accurate and timely data.
We use your R04 data return in several ways, including:

  • calculating 16 to 19 funding allocations and growth for the 2021 to 2022 funding year
  • calculating the carry over costs for procured non-levy apprenticeship contracts for the 2021 to 2022 financial year
  • supporting the calculation of 19+ funding allocations for the 2021 to 2022 funding year
  • measuring the performance of your adult education budget (contract for services), 16 to 18 traineeship (for providers without 16 to 19 funding) and 19 to 24 traineeship contract value as set out in the adult education budget funding and performance-management rules

For further information on data submissions please refer to our individualised learner record (ILR) guidance and also our funding guidance for young people: ILR funding returns.

If you have any queries, please contact your territorial team lead.

4. Information: update to the published high needs student and pupil numbers for 2019 to 2020

We have updated the high needs student and pupil numbers: 2019 to 2020 academic year workbook to reflect the high needs student numbers recorded in the 2019 to 2020 ILR R14 data return. The workbook now includes pupil and place numbers for:

  • further education colleges
  • Independent Learning Providers
  • 16 to 19 academies
  • 16 to 19 free schools
  • special post-16 institutions
  • special academies
  • special free schools

You can use the high needs student and pupil numbers recorded in the ILR and school census to inform local discussion about commissioning arrangements for 2021 to 2022.