ESFA Update local authorities: 7 February 2024
Published 7 February 2024
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-7-february-2024/esfa-update-local-authorities-7-february-2024
1. Action: mid-year funding claim for 2023 to 2024
The mid-year funding claim window will open at 9am on Thursday 8 February 2024.
Please submit your mid-year funding claim by 5pm on Tuesday 13 February 2024. The claim form will be available on submit learner data. The funding claims user guide is available to help you complete the form.
You will need to submit a claim if you receive funds through the below grant-funded contracts:
- ESFA funded adult education budget (adult skills, community learning, 19 to 24 traineeships and Level 3 Free Courses for Jobs offer)
- advanced learner loans bursary
The 16 to 19 delivery section of the funding claim only needs to be signed off for your final funding claims. For 16 to 19 delivery, you do not need to take any action for mid-year or year-end funding claims.
Once you have submitted your mid-year funding claim on submit learner data, you will also be able to view it on manage your education and skills funding.
If you have any queries, please use ESFA help centre to contact us.
2. Action: join a National Tutoring Programme webinar on holiday tuition
Schools can use their 2023 to 2024 National Tutoring Programme (NTP) grant to pay for 50% of tutoring costs until 31 August 2024. This includes delivering tutoring in the holidays to support pupils transitioning between key stages and schools.
To find out more, register for our next webinar on Thursday 7 March at 12.30pm, which will cover the 2023 to 2024 NTP guidance and practical tips to support you in delivering holiday tuition.
You can submit questions in advance by emailing ntp.engagement@education.gov.uk.
We also encourage you to use the calculator tool to plan and track your tutoring. Watch the short video below to see how to use it.
3. Information: publication of local authority and school expenditure statistics for 2022 to 2023
On 25 January 2024, we published the local authority and school expenditure statistics release for the financial year 2022 to 2023.
The release contains information on income, expenditure, and revenue reserves of local authority-maintained schools. This data comes from the consistent financial reporting returns that schools submit.
It also includes expenditure by local authorities on schools, education and community services, and children’s and young people’s services, which is drawn from local authorities’ section 251 returns.
You may also wish to view the schools financial benchmarking website for school level data and comparisons.
4. Information: senior mental health lead training – extension of funding to July 2024
As of this week, eligible state funded schools and colleges can now claim a senior mental health lead training grant for training due to start by 31 July 2024.
All state schools and colleges can claim a £1,200 grant for their mental health lead to attend Department for Education (DfE) quality assured training.
The training will help your mental health lead develop your setting’s holistic approach to promoting and supporting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils, learners and staff.
If you previously claimed a grant and your trained lead has left your setting, you can also now apply for a second grant.
Information on eligibility and how to claim is available in the conditions of grant.
5. Information: School Business Professional (SBP) events – book your place now
The Schools Commercial team is hosting a programme of free webinars on how using DfE approved frameworks could save you time and help your school get value for money.
Topics covered include:
- Tuesday, 27 February 09:30 to 10:00 – buying facilities management services for your school
- Tuesday, 27 February 11:00 to 11:30 – how the Get help buying for schools service can support your school buying
- Tuesday, 27 February 14:00 to 14:30 – The Risk Protection Arrangement - an alternative to commercial insurance
View the spring 2024 programme and register to attend.
The Schools Commercial Team also run the Buying for Schools blog. Our most recent blog post from Frances Rowland, Chair of the ABLE network, looks at how the ABLE network supports school business professionals, and why you should consider joining a network if you’re not a member already.
6. Your feedback: user research to identify requirements for the GIAS new solution
The DfE’s Get Information about Schools (GIAS) service is going to be retired once a new solution is developed.
To create a new solution, we are undertaking a discovery to understand user needs. We will use the results from the user research to help to identify key user needs and requirements for the new solution.
We would like to invite local authorities who use GIAS or GIAS data directly or indirectly to take part in the user research via this form.
7. Your feedback: user feedback from those who manage estates and buildings in education settings for local authorities
DfE is conducting user research with those responsible for estate and building management in education settings. During a 60-minute interview you will be asked questions about how you manage your estate(s) and to draw on your experiences of using DfE Capital services.
Research will take place using Ms Teams during February, and those taking part will receive £40 either as cash or a voucher.
All research is completely anonymous.
If you would like to participate, please complete this form.
8. Your feedback: can you help us improve how you submit Skills Bootcamp data?
Are you involved in submitting data to ESFA about Skills Bootcamps?
We want to improve the way you submit Skills Bootcamps data, so we’re gathering feedback from people involved in it. This will help us ensure that we understand your needs and design improvements that meet them.
What you can do now:
You can register your interest in taking part in user research by completing an expression of interest form.
We will send you more information about research opportunities and invitations to take part as they become available over the coming months.
Your participation is optional, and you are not required to take part after you register your interest.
If you have any questions or want more information you can email theone.johnson@education.gov.uk.