Correspondence

ESFA Update academies: 10 January 2024

Published 10 January 2024

Applies to England

1. Action: submit a 16 to 19 tuition fund in year spend report by 5pm on 26 January 2024

All providers in receipt of 16 to 19 tuition fund for academic year 2023 to 2024 need to submit a 16 to 19 tuition fund in year spend report by 5pm on 26 January 2024.

The form is live and will close at 5pm on 26 January 2024. Guidance to help you access and complete the form has been published which can be found here 16 to 19 tuition fund in year spend report guidance January 2024.

It is important that you complete and submit your return as this is part of your funding requirements.

After the closing date for returns we will consider whether there is scope to increase some  allocations as we did in AY 2022 to 2023. If we do, only providers that have submitted a return and forecast spending 100% of their allocation will be eligible to receive additional funding.

If you are forecasting spending 100% of your tuition fund allocation and believe you could deliver more tutoring within this academic year if your allocation was increased, please indicate this on your form.

If you have any questions about the contents of this article, please contact us via the  ESFA help centre.

2. Action: respond to the consultation on the Advanced British Standard qualification framework

On Thursday 14 December the Department for Education (DfE) launched a consultation to shape the development of the new Advanced British Standard (ABS) qualification framework for 16 to 19-year-olds.

The ABS will build upon the best elements of A levels and T Levels, forming a new single qualification framework. Students will study maths and English until age 18 and have the chance to study a broader range of subjects set within a new Baccalaureate style qualification framework.

We are seeking a wide range of views to help shape the design and implementation of the ABS qualification framework. Please respond to the consultation by 20 March 2024.

The ABS team are also hosting regional events on the consultation in-person and online over the coming weeks and would like to invite you to attend one of these events.

Please sign-up to an event and share the booking link within your networks.

3. Action: register for a National Tutoring Programme webinar

We’re delighted almost 5 million courses have been started through the National Tutoring Programme (NTP), including 345,606 this academic year (up to 5 October 2023).

If you have not yet started delivering tutoring, check your funding allocation and read the guidance for schools.

We’re hosting a webinar to provide an overview of the NTP and help schools make the most of their funding. Register using the link below:

• Tuesday 23 January 2024 - 12.30pm to 1.15pm

Throughout the webinar, there will be the chance to ask questions – to submit a question in advance, please email [email protected].

4. Information: increase to Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Funding Band  

The funding band for the Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship will increase from £6,000 to £7,000 from April 2024.

This uplift has been made as part of the wider revision of the Early Years Educator apprenticeship standard, which has brought the standard in line with the new Level 3 Early Years Educator criteria.

The Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship prepares learners to become Early Years Educators, enabling them to work with and care for children from birth to 5 years old. It is suitable for those who want to plan, organise and lead enriching learning activities as well as supervise others.

This uplift supports the department’s commitment to enable the Early Years workforce to deliver the transformative reforms to childcare announced by the Chancellor in the Spring 2023 budget.

5. Information: Academy Finance Professionals January Power Hour - building school and trust business and finance professional capability

Join us on Thursday 25th January 3:00pm to 4:00pm to learn more about the opportunities on offer to help you build your business and finance professional capability. Hear from our speakers on how we can support you through:

• One-to-one mentoring,
• Training bursaries,
• School Resource Management (SRM) training webinars
• Contract management training and more.

Sign up now.

6. Reminder: academies national non-domestic rates (NNDR) adjustments to previous claims  

This message is for all academies in relation to NNDR. 

Academies and trusts can adjust previously paid NNDR claims for 2022 to 2023 using the academies NNDR service. 

Claims can be submitted up until 31 January 2024. Claims are only required where billing authorities are not submitting on your behalf.

ESFA will not, under any circumstances, accept adjustment claims after this deadline.

7. Reminder: academies national non-domestic rates (NNDR) new claims for 2023 to 2024 

This message is for academies opted out of the current national non-domestic rates (NNDR) process.

Academies that remain under the old NNDR arrangements because their billing authority has decided to not implement the central payment process for April 2023, should submit new claims for 2023 to 2024 by 31 January 2024.  

Claims can be submitted on the academies NNDR service. 

ESFA will not, under any circumstances, accept new claims after this deadline.

8. Reminder: the financial statements deadline has now passed

The deadline to submit your trust’s financial statements has now passed.

Thank you to all trusts who submitted their trust’s financial statements before the deadline. If you have not submitted your financial statements, please make every effort to do so immediately. If you are having difficulties submitting your financial statements, please see our guidance.

9. Feedback: complete this survey to give us your feedback on potential names for a new DfE service

We are working on a new DfE service to improve your experience in finding and navigating information and services from DfE. We would like to get your feedback on potential names for this service.

The survey will take approximately 5 - 10 minutes to complete and closes on Friday 19th January 2024.

Your personal data will be kept confidential.

10. Feedback: help us to improve the online Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA)

We would like to improve the digital journey that you use to opt-in to the RPA scheme, and to download your membership certificate. Gathering your feedback would help us deliver a better digital experience for you.

What you can do now:

• book a confidential online research interview with a user researcher. These will run for around an hour on Microsoft Teams from January 2024. To receive further information and book your interview, you can email the researcher with your availability and preferred times.

The information you provide will help us to ensure that we understand your needs, and to design improvements that meet them.