ESFA Update academies: 30 November 2022
Published 30 November 2022
Applies to England
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1. Reminder: next steps following submission of the year-end statement for the school-led tutoring grant for 2021 to 2022
Last week, you should have received an email about the school-led tutoring grant funding for the 2021 to 2022 academic year. This email was sent from news@esfagov.uk to the head of organisation and the member of staff who submitted the year-end statement. If you cannot see the email in your inbox, please check your junk and spam folders.
It included the data your school submitted on the year-end statement and will confirm whether any school-led tutoring grant funding will be recovered. Please read this email carefully and follow the instructions included.
2. Information: national non-domestic rates (NNDR) accounting guidance for local authorities and academies
We have published the NNDR accounting guidance which provides details on how local authorities and academies should account for NNDR.
Academies should refer to the Academies Accounts Direction and submitting your audited 2021 to 2022 financial statements alongside the NNDR accounting guidance.
3. Information: letter from the Education Secretary to the sector on the Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) improvement plan
The Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan MP, has written to the sector outlining her vision for the publication of the Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) Improvement Plan and her commitment to meet with families and organisations ahead of its publication early next year.
In the letter, she clarifies her commitment to improve the experiences of children and young people with SEND or in AP, within a fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable system across education, health and care. Ahead of the improvement plan being published, children and young people with SEND will benefit from wellbeing and technology support straight away, with new funding announced for educational psychologists and assistive technology. This money will continue to support the system to deliver change and continue to improve the outcomes and experiences of children and young people with SEND and those who need alternative provision.
To read the letter in full visit the Department for Education (DfE) Education Hub.
4. Information: free contract manager training pilot for schools
DfE are launching a new Contract Management Foundation Training pilot in Spring 2023.
This free pilot will test the Cabinet Office Foundation Level training with schools and MATs to understand if this is suitable in its current format. Participants will play an important role in helping identify any possible areas where the training can be improved to better meet schools’ needs.
The training is suitable for anyone within a school who has contract management responsibilities, not just those in a specific commercial role.
For further information and to express an interest, please send your name and job title to ESCC.PROJECT@education.gov.uk.
5. Information: join these webinars on approved frameworks and see how you could save money for your school
Are you responsible for buying goods and services for your school? The Schools Commercial Team (SCT) within the Department for Education is leading on the Buying for Schools programme; delivering services to support schools to buy goods and services.
The team are hosting free webinars on how using our approved frameworks could save you time and help your school get value for money. Our autumn programme wraps up with the webinars listed below. Click on the links to find out more and book your place:
- Buying tailor-made audit services for academies and schools – 6 Dec
- Buying catering services for your school through YPO – 6 Dec
- Buying or leasing multifunctional printing/scanning devices for your school – 7 Dec
- Buying legal services for your school – 8 Dec
- Buying education technology for your school – 8 Dec
- Buying catering services for your school through ESPO – 13 Dec
You can find the full programme of webinars for the remainder of the autumn term on the Autumn 2022 webinar page. Visit the page to find out more and book your place.