Update: issue 350 (15 March 2017)
Updated 29 March 2017
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2017
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfa-update-march-2017/update-issue-350-15-march-2017
1. IDAMS superusers – check yours!
Action
Our service centre is getting calls from providers who are unsure of their IDAMS superuser. Sometimes these turn out to have left the organisation.
Please make sure your IDAMS superuser is up to date. The service centre can help you with this.
2. Traineeships growth requests 2016 to 2017
Action
This week you will be able to submit requests for increases to your 16-to-18 and 19- to-24 traineeships for the funding year 2016 to 2017. This will help you to prepare for the performance-management point 2 review.
Send your completed growth request forms to provider performance management before 5pm on Monday 3 April.
For further information, please contact your provider manager.
3. Skills funding letter 2017 to 2018
Information
The government has published the skills funding letter for the 2017 to 2018 financial year. This annual letter sets out the government’s skills priorities and funding for apprenticeships, adult further education and skills, re-affirming the positive position for adult skills funding over the spending review period.
4. Register of apprenticeship training providers
Information
We have published the register of apprenticeship training providers. The list of successful organisations is on GOV.UK.
Providers with questions about their applications should pose these through the Bravo e-tendering portal.
We plan to re-open the RoATP on or around 20 March, followed by quarterly openings thereafter. Further information will be published on the RoATP webpage and will be communicated in Update.
5. Advanced learner loans – 2016 to 2017 changes and 2017 to 2018 rules and documentation
Information
We have this week published:
- an addendum to v4 of the 2016 to 2017 funding and performance-management rules: this affects growth requests, subcontracting and ILR recording
- 2017 to 2018 funding rules: these apply to all providers of education and training who hold a loans facility and loans bursary fund agreement with the Skills Funding Agency – performance-management rules are currently being reviewed and will be in v2 published in May
- 2017 to 2018 advanced learner loans catalogue: this lists qualifications that are available for a loan up to 31 July 2018
- 2017 to 2018 advanced leaner loans maximum loan amounts: these cover all designated qualifications, where learners start between 1 August 2016 to 31 July 2017
- advanced learner loans prospectus for 2017 to 2018: this sets out for awarding organisations the criteria and process that we will use to designate qualifications for loans
If you have any questions, contact your provider manager.
6. Apprenticeship funding rules 2017 to 2018, v1.1
Information
We will shortly publish an updated version of the apprenticeship funding rules following feedback from employers and providers regarding potential delivery models as well as other areas for clarification.
We have strengthened the rules to prohibit the payment of incentives, inducements by providers or refunds of co-investment of any kind. We have also clarified licence to practice, end point assessment costs, paid working hours and employers subcontracting from a main provider.
7. 2017 to 2018 allocations
Information
In line with our usual business cycle, we will issue allocation statements before the end of March. The statements will set out 2017 to 2018 allocations for colleges and training organisations. Statements will be issued through the Hub.
The covering letter to the statements includes the detail of how we have worked out your allocations.
For further information, please contact your provider manager.
8. Subcontractor declaration 2016 to 2017
Information
In-scope organisations with an SFA funding agreement must submit a subcontracting declaration for the second time in funding year 2016 to 2017, as stated in the common and performance management funding rules (para A69).
If you subcontract, you must submit a subcontracting declaration form detailing your current subcontracting arrangements.
If you do not subcontract, you must provide a ‘nil return’.
We will shortly be sending an email to all in-scope organisations, which includes details on how to submit a form or provide a ‘nil return’ and the deadline date for submissions.
If you fail to submit a return, your payment will be suspended.