ESFA Update local authorities: 18 October 2023
Updated 20 October 2023
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-18-october-2023/esfa-update-local-authorities-18-october-2023
1. Action: 2024 to 2025 high needs place change process
The high needs place change process for 2024 to 2025 is now open.
Please confirm your high needs place numbers in ESFA-funded schools and colleges for 2024 to 2025 by 10 November 2023. You can do this by using the MS Excel workbook accessed via the GalaxKey system. We have sent an email notification to local authority contacts detailing how to access the file via GalaxKey.
We have published guidance on the high needs place change process and how to complete the place change workbook.
You can also make requests for changes to hospital education funding through the workbook. The hospital education funding guidance explains the criteria for this.
We have published the spring 2022 census data for high needs pupil numbers in special academies and free schools, and the place numbers for 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024. We issued R06 data to local authorities, with the import/export adjustment for the 2023 to 2024 financial year, in June 2023. You can use this to inform local discussions about commissioning arrangements for 2024 to 2025.
2. Action: 16 to 19 tuition fund 2023 to 2024 digital form
The 16 to 19 tuition fund 2023 to 2024 opt in/out digital form second window is now live.
The deadline for your submission is 11:59pm on 20 October 2023.
We’ve published guidance to access and help you complete the form.
You can read more on the 16 to 19 tuition fund 2023 to 2024 webpage.
3. Reminder: final funding claim for 2022 to 2023
The final funding claim window will open at 9am on Tuesday 24 October 2023.
Please submit your final funding claim by 5pm on Friday 27 October 2023. The claim form will be available on submit learner data. The funding claims user guide is available to help you complete the form.
If you have any exceptional adjustments to enter on the claim form, you will require prior agreement by the ESFA. The claim should be supported by relevant evidence, which the ESFA may request. Any unauthorised exceptional adjustments will be disallowed.
Your principal or delegated authority must sign your claim digitally on Manage your education and skills funding by 5pm on Tuesday 31 October 2023.
You will need to submit a claim if you receive funds through these contracts:
- grant funded - ESFA funded adult education budget (AEB) (adult skills, community learning, 19 to 24 traineeships and national skills fund Level 3 adult offer (Level 3 Free Courses for Jobs))
- grant funded - advanced learner loans bursary (ALLB)
- 16 to 19 education
Once you have submitted your year-end funding claim on submit learner data, you will also be able to view it on Manage your education and skills funding.
You must not enter any adjustments relating to the earnings boost in your funding claim, we will do this after you have submitted the claim. Your reconciliation statement will include the earnings boost that we have calculated.
If you have any queries, please use ESFA help centre to contact us.
4. Reminder: autumn school census 2023
The 2023 autumn school census date was Thursday, 5 October. The deadline for returns is Wednesday, 1 November.
The school census data will be used to finalise funding allocations. It is important that you check the accuracy of your schools’ returns before you submit them.
Based on issues that schools have previously had, we suggest you particularly check that:
-
pupils previously in early years provision have their status changed from part-time to full-time
- pupils arriving into reception are recorded correctly and not showing as ‘guest’ pupils
- dual registered pupils are correctly recorded
- school lunch taken is recorded correctly
- primary schools in London do not record all pupils as FSM unless they have a valid claim
- T Level students are recorded correctly
Our post-16 interactive census tool can help you understand how schools’ data is used to calculate 16 to 19 funding, in support of schools with sixth forms.
Full guidance to help with completing the census is available on GOV.UK.
If you have any queries about the school census, please use our service request form.
5. Information: 16 to 19 and adult revenue funding allocations for 2023 to 2024
We have published the 16 to 19 revenue funding allocations for academic year 2023 to 2024 on GOV.UK.
The publication covers schools, academies and further education institutions funded by ESFA for 16 to 19 year olds and 19 to 25 year olds with an education, health and care (EHC) plan.
We have also published the adult, apprenticeship and traineeship funding allocations for academic year 2023 to 2024 for training providers.
The publication covers the funding values for colleges, training organisations and employers with an adult education budget, apprenticeship, advanced learner loan or traineeship contract for 2023 to 2024.
We publish both sets of allocations data annually in the interests of transparency.
6. Information: York, Lincoln, and Wakefield school business professional (SBP) roundtables – spaces available
Are you responsible for buying for your school or trust?
There are spaces available at our York, Lincoln, and Wakefield roundtable events. If you are based nearby and would like to join colleagues from across your region to network, share your procurement issues and priorities, and find out more about the free procurement support available from the DfE, book your place now:
7. Information: free contract management training for schools and trusts
DfE are launching a new cohort for the Contract Management Foundation Training in autumn 2023.
This free Cabinet Office Foundation Level training will provide schools and trusts with the fundamental principles of contract management.
It is a flexible, online learning programme suitable for anyone responsible for buying goods or services for their school or trust, not just those in a specific commercial role.
For further information and to express an interest, please send your name and job title to [email protected].