ESFA Update further education: 9 March 2022
Published 9 March 2022
Applies to England
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1. Reminder: application deadline for the incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice
Do you work with employers who hired a new apprentice between 1 October 2021 and 31 January 2022?
If these apprentices have an apprenticeship start date between 1 October 2021 and 31 March 2022, employers could be eligible for the £3,000 incentive payment for hiring a new apprentice.
Employers must log into their Apprenticeship Service accounts to apply for the incentive payment. Applications close 15 May 2022.
Share these resources with employers to support their application:
- how to apply guide including when to apply, steps to take before applying, how to apply and what happens after applying.
- guidance page including eligibility, how the payment can be used and when payments are made.
- how to apply video including a walk through of the steps to take within the Apprenticeship Service.
2. Information: third cycle for higher technical qualifications announced
The application window for the third cycle of Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) approvals process has now opened.
The government announced plans in 2020 to drive up the quality of level 4 and 5 qualifications and make it far easier for employers and learners to identify which training programmes meet their skills needs.
A keyway of doing this will be through HTQs. Approved qualifications will be set apart from other qualifications by a government backed quality mark.
Read more about the third cycle on the Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education’s website.
3. Information: teachers’ pay grant (TPG) and teachers’ pensions employer contribution grant (TPECG) - arrangements for 16 to 19 and early years from April 2022
Since 2021 to 2022 the TPG and TPECG funding for reception to year 11 provision has been paid through the national funding formula, and therefore been part of core monthly funding since April 2021 (schools) and September 2021 (academies).
Separate grants, however, continued to be paid in respect of early years and 16 to 19 provision.
From 2022 to 2023 academic year the TPG funding for 16 to 19 provision will be paid through the 16 to 19 core funding formula. A separate grant will continue for 16 to 19 TPECG.
Separate grants will also continue for early years TPG and TPECG.
To summarise:
| Funding | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Early years TPG | Funded through separate grant, with allocations in April 2022 and October 2022 for 2022 to 2023. |
| Early years TPECG | Funded through separate grant, with allocations in April 2022 and October 2022 for 2022 to 2023. |
| 16 to 19 TPG | Allocations in April 2022 to cover up to beginning of academic year 2022 to 2023, when funding will be rolled into 16-19 core funding. |
| 16 to 19 TPECG | Funded through separate grant, with allocations in April 2022 and October 2022 for 2022 to 2023. |
Beyond 2022 to 2023 we intend to continue to simplify the allocation of this funding, by continuing the process of rolling this funding into core allocations. We will provide information on how we intend to do that in due course.
4. Information: proposed reforms to post-16 qualifications at level 2 and below in England
On 2 March the Government launched its consultation on post-16 qualifications at level 2 and below in England.
This consultation offers an opportunity to shape the future qualification landscape at level 2 and below, streamlining and improving the quality of post-16 qualifications. The proposed reforms will benefit young people and adults across the country by providing access to high-quality qualifications that help them achieve their aspirations and boost their career prospects.
4.1 How to respond to the consultation
Please visit GOV.UK to submit your response.
To help us analyse the responses, please use this online system wherever possible.
If you cannot use the online system, and require an accessible version, please contact Post16level2andbelow.CONSULTATION@education.gov.uk.
4.2 Launch events
We will be presenting details of our proposals at the following launch events:
- 9 March 2022 at 3:00pm register here
- 15 March 2022 at 2:00pm register here
5. Information: reform of basic digital skills qualifications – Level 2 ICT functional skills and ICT users’ qualifications at level 2
From 1 August 2022, we will remove funding approval from some information and communication technology (ICT) qualifications at level 2. We are doing this as part of the Department for Education’s work to reform essential digital skills.
We have published an initial list of ICT qualifications that are in scope for removed funding approval. These are Functional Skills Qualifications (FSQs) in ICT at level 2 and ICT for Users level 2 qualifications.
Awarding organisations with ICT for Users qualifications on the initial list may appeal the decision to remove funding approval, but not for FSQs. You can find details and timelines for the appeals process on the ESFA Qualifications and public funding page.
We will publish the final list of qualifications with removed funding approval before the end of March 2022.
If you have any further queries, please use our contact form.
6. Information: apprenticeship non-levy procured allocations from 1 April 2022
We will shortly be extending apprenticeship non-levy procured contracts to cover the 2022 to 2023 financial year. These allocations will include funding to cover the carry in costs of learners who started on or before 31 March 2020. From 1 April 2021, all new apprenticeship starts will be funded via the Apprenticeship Service.
Allocation letters will be issued to training providers via Manage your education and skills funding. Contract extensions will be issued in March.
Training providers must ensure they have signed the contract extension before the current contract expires on 31 March 2022.
Please contact us using our online form if you have any queries.
7. Your feedback: IfATE apprentice survey
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) apprentice panel wants to hear from apprentices all across the country in their apprenticeship survey. This is a chance to have apprentices’ voices heard and to help make apprenticeships even better.
This is a short survey and should take about 10 minutes to complete.
This survey is open to any apprentice who is on or has completed an apprenticeship standard. The survey will close on 8 April 2022.
8. Information: Adult Prison Education HMP Berwyn (North Wales) – Market Engagement Opportunity
The Ministry of Justice has issued a Prior Information Notice (PIN) containing details of market engagement activity relating to Adult Prison Education Services in HMP Berwyn (North Wales). Links to the PIN can be found here:
A market engagement launch event, will be held via webinar on 22 March 2022. This event is strictly an opportunity to engage and is not a call for competition.
The purpose of this market engagement is to secure wider market involvement in the development of the new Prisoner Education Service in HMP Berwyn.
The procurement of these education services will cover the full scope of Prison education and all associated services. A procurement process is anticipated to commence in August 2022.
This launch event on 22 March 2022 from 10:00 to 12:30 will commence market engagement. This will include more specific information on service objectives and requirements. There will be an opportunity to ask questions during the live event as well as at any time afterwards.
Suppliers should register to the Launch event using the link above. The MoJ Jaggaer procurement portal also has access to further information on the Prison Education Service and background to working with the Prison Service.
At the Market Engagement Launch event, we will set out the vision for prison education in HMP Berwyn. Suppliers attending the event will gain a better understanding of how they can engage with and participate in the procurement process.
Suppliers must register to the event to obtain access and further information and access to this market engagement event.
We are very interested to hear all suppliers’ views throughout this process to enable us to shape the new procurement and improve contracting arrangements.
The market engagement activity is strictly an opportunity to engage and is not a call for competition.
We look forward to seeing you at the launch event, if this is of interest to you.
For queries please contact: CCMD-HMP-Berwyn-tender@Justice.gov.uk