Guidance

Local authorities planning calendar for the 2023 to 2024 financial year

Published 2 May 2023

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authorities-planning-calendar-2023-to-2024/local-authorities-planning-calendar-for-the-2023-to-2024-financial-year

1. April 2023

1.1 Local authority action:

  • deadline for section 251 budget statements for 2023 to 2024 (28 April)

  • submit national non-domestic rates (NNDR) claims by 22 May

1.2 Payment:

  • ESFA makes the 1st payment of the DSG (5 April)

  • ESFA makes the second PE and sport premium payment for the 2022 to 2023 academic year (28 April)

  • ESFA makes 1st mainstream schools additional grant payment to local authorities

1.3 Information:

  • ESFA makes final update to the high needs place numbers dataset for 2022 to 2023

  • ESFA issues high needs place dataset for 2022 to 2023

  • ESFA issues high needs place dataset for 2023 to 2024

  • ESFA issues updated dedicated schools grant (DSG) allocations for 2023 to 2024 for in year recoupment and high needs deductions

  • ESFA issues schemes for financing schools guidance

  • ESFA issues NNDR payment process form guidance for billing authorities

  • ESFA issues mainstream schools additional grant conditions of grant and allocations for 2023 to 2024

2. May 2023

2.1 Local authority action:

  • complete summer school census

  • complete early years 2023 summer term data collection

  • deadline for submitting NNDR claims (22 May)

  • submit schools financial value standards assurance statement by 31 May

  • complete certification to ESFA to confirm that the pupil premium grant and other non-DSG grants for schools paid in 2022 to 2023 have been spent in line with the conditions of grant

2.2 Payment:

  • ESFA makes 2nd payment of the DSG (4 May)

  • ESFA makes 1st mainstream schools additional grant payment to academies

  • ESFA makes schools supplementary grant payment to academies

2.3 Information

3. June 2023

3.1 Local authority action:

  • review high needs import/export data

3.2 Payment:

  • ESFA makes 3rd payment of the DSG (5 June)

  • ESFA makes the 1st quarterly pupil premium payment for 2023 to 2024 financial year (30 June)

  • ESFA makes universal infant free schools meals (UIFSM) payment to local authorities for 2023 to 2024 academic year (30 June)

  • ESFA makes NNDR payment (30 June)

3.3 Information:

  • ESFA issues UIFSM conditions of grant and allocations for 2023 to 2024

  • ESFA issues high needs import export data for 2023 to 2024

  • ESFA issues high needs special free school adjustments for 2023 to 2024

  • ESFA issues section 251 outturn guidance on completing the outturn template for 2022 to 2023

4. July 2023

4.1 Local authority action:

4.2 Payment:

  • ESFA makes 4th payment of the DSG (5 July)

  • ESFA makes universal infant free schools meals (UIFSM) payment to academies for 2023 to 2024 academic year (3 July)

4.3 Information:

  • ESFA issues updated dedicated schools grant (DSG) allocations for 2023 to 2024 for in year recoupment and high needs deductions

  • ESFA issues updated high needs place dataset for 2022 to 2023

  • ESFA issues updated high needs place dataset for 2023 to 2024

  • routine annual DfE announcement of notional national funding formula allocations for 2024 to 2025

  • ESFA issues schools operational guidance, modelling tools and proformas for 2024 to 2025

  • ESFA issues high needs funding operational guide for 2024 to 2025

5. August 2023

5.1 Local authority action:

  • submit section 251 outturn statements for 2022 to 2023

5.2 Payment:

  • ESFA makes 5th payment of the DSG (3 August)

6. September 2023

6.1 Local authority action:

6.2 Payment:

  • ESFA makes 6th payment of the DSG (5 September)

  • ESFA makes 1st recovery premium grant payment (29 September)

  • ESFA makes 2nd quarterly pupil premium payment for 2023 to 2024 financial year (29 September)

6.3 Information:

7. October 2023

7.1 Local authority action:

  • complete autumn school census

  • complete early years 2023 autumn term data collection

  • submit completed disapplication proforma for 2024 to 2025 (first disapplication window)

7.2 Payment:

  • ESFA makes 7th payment of the DSG (4 October)

  • ESFA make NNDR payments for positive in-year adjustments (31 October)

  • ESFA makes 2nd mainstream schools additional grant payment to local authorities

7.3 Information:

  • ESFA issues the 2022 to 2023 high needs student numbers as recorded in the Individualised Learner Record and school census dataset

  • ESFA issues high needs 2024 to 2025 place change process guidance, including guidance on additional local authority hospital education funding

  • ESFA issues high needs 2024 to 2025 place change notification instructions on how to complete the workbook

  • launch of high needs place change notification process for 2024 to 2025

8. November 2023

8.1 Local authority action:

  • alternative provision free school 2024 to 2025 place change data collection closes

  • submit completed disapplication proforma for 2024 to 2025 (second disapplication window)

  • high needs place change notification process for 2024 to 2025 closes

8.2 Payment:

  • ESFA makes 8th payment of the DSG (3 November)

  • ESFA makes 2nd mainstream schools additional grant payment to academies

8.3 Information:

  • ESFA issues updated dedicated schools grant (DSG) allocations for 2023 to 2024 for in year recoupment and high needs deductions

  • ESFA publishes the early years operational guide 2024 to 2025

  • ESFA issues updated final allocation for early years for 2023 to 2024

  • ESFA issues final funding allocations for early years for 2022 to 2023 (to reflect 2023 spring term adjustments)

9. December 2023

9.1 Local authority action:

  • deadline for submitting early years 2023 autumn term data

9.2 Payment:

  • ESFA makes 9th payment of the DSG (5 December)

  • ESFA pays 3rd quarterly pupil premium payment for 2023 to 2024 (29 December)

  • ESFA makes 2nd recovery premium grant payment (29 December)

9.3 Information:

  • ESFA issues section 251 outturn raw data for 2022 to 2023

  • ESFA issues consistent financial reporting (CFR) primary and secondary school performance data for 2022 to 2023

  • ESFA issues the authority proforma tool (APT) with guidance and pupil number data for 2024 to 2025

  • ESFA announces schools revenue funding settlement for 2024 to 2025, including details of the DSG and other grant funding

10. January 2024

10.1 Local authority action:

  • complete spring school census

  • complete the early years census

  • submit the APT for 2024 to 2025

  • final deadline for submitting NNDR adjustment claims (31 January)

10.2 Payment:

  • ESFA makes 10th payment of the DSG (4 January)

10.3 Information:

  • ESFA issues updated dedicated schools grant (DSG) allocations for 2023 to 2024 for in year recoupment and high needs deductions

  • ESFA issues high needs place change request outcomes for 2024 to 2025 and two-week enquiry window opens.

  • ESFA issues updated provisional allocation for early years for 2023 to 2024 (to reflect 2023 summer and autumn term adjustments)

11. February 2024

11.1 Local authority action:

  • local authorities obtain political ratification of their pre-16 funding formulae as outlined in their APT

  • local authorities issue allocations to maintained schools after sign off from ESFA and by 28 February 2024

11.2 Payment:

  • ESFA makes 11th payment of the DSG (5 February)

11.3 Information:

  • ESFA issues section 251 Budget guidance on completing the budget template for 2024 to 2025

12. March 2024

12.1 Local authority action:

12.2 Payment:

  • ESFA makes 12th payment of the DSG (5 March)

  • ESFA pays 4th quarterly pupil premium payment for 2023 to 2024 (28 March)

  • ESFA makes NNDR adjustment payment (31 March)

  • ESFA makes 13th payment of the DSG (22 March)

  • ESFA makes 3rd recovery premium grant payment (28 March)

12.3 Information:

  • ESFA issues update to published DSG allocations for final recoupment data and high needs deductions for 2023 to 2024

  • ESFA issues CFR guidance for 2024 to 2025

  • ESFA issues section 251 budget collection for 2024 to 2025

  • ESFA issues updated high needs place dataset for 2023 to 2024

  • ESFA issues updated high needs place dataset for 2024 to 2025

  • DfE issues schools financial value standard guidance for 2024 to 2025

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