Correspondence

ESFA Update further education: 27 September 2023

Published 27 September 2023

Applies to England

1. Reminder: final day to apply to become an expert apprenticeship training provider

Today (27 September) is the closing day for applications for providers to apply to take part in the Department for Education’s (DfE) pilot to test an expert apprenticeship training provider status. Through this pilot we will work with the selected expert providers to:

• make it easier for you to work with SMEs by giving you more access to our systems
• reduce the time and resource you need to commit to coaching non-levy paying employers through their digital journey
• give you the opportunity to identify and realise operational cost and resource savings
• reward and incentivise good quality delivery by allowing you to use your expert status as a mark of excellence and a marketing tool
• develop a new expert provider status for wider implementation after the pilot

Through the pilot, participating training providers will have the opportunity to shape what Expert Provider’ means for the sector.

1.1 How to apply

This is not a procurement exercise and is designed to be a light-touch process, with minimal time required to complete the application. There is no additional funding to be awarded.

Organisations wishing to participate should refer to the guidance to check their eligibility before submitting an expression of interest selection questionnaire by 23.59 on Wednesday 27 September 2023.

The pilot will commence week commencing 30 October 2023.

Enquiries relating to this process can be directed to: [email protected].

2. Information: college borrowing

Colleges must obtain the written consent of DfE before entering any amendment to arrangements for existing borrowing within the scope of MPM and provide evidence as to how the change meets MPM rules.

Amendments which may be within the scope of MPM include, but are not limited to:

• changes relating to the term of a loan
• requests to change the length of time to repay the loan
• interest rate change outside of the existing agreement terms (including any move between a variable and a fixed interest rate) and providing additional security
• any other changes to the terms of existing facilities, including covenant changes, which incur a fee by the lender

If in doubt as to whether within scope or not, please submit a consent request.

Amendments and other college actions related to facilities which are not within the scope of MPM and therefore do not require the written consent of DfE include:

• providing periodic standard written representations to lenders
• any other changes to the terms of existing facilities, including covenant changes, which do not incur a fee by the lender and are not amendments within the scope of MPM as defined above

Read our guidance on how to submit a request.

3. Information: backfill payments for time off timetable for early career framework (ECF) mentor training for the 2022 to 2023 academic year – autumn sweep up payments for eligible schools and organisations

In August 2023, we published the backfill payments for time off timetable for early career framework (ECF) mentor training allocations for participants who have undertaken ECF mentor training in the 2022 to 2023 academic year.

To ensure all eligible schools and organisations not captured in the summer 2023 payment window will be paid in-year, a sweep up payment will be made in autumn 2023.

Please ensure all relevant actions are completed on the Department for Education (DfE) manage training for early career teachers service page and that your training provider has also confirmed participant engagement with the training programme with the department.

For those schools and institutions within Buckinghamshire who were incorrectly identified as ‘rest of England’ instead of the ‘London fringe’ area, we will also be making payment corrections in the autumn sweep up.

These corrections will be applicable for 2022 and 2023 funding allocations.

Please note that corrective payments will be made automatically to those affected schools and organisations.

4. Information: funding for time off timetable for early career teachers and mentors who participated in the national roll-out of the early career framework – autumn sweep up payments for eligible schools and organisations

In August 2023, we published the funding for time off timetable for early career teachers and mentors who participated in the national roll-out of the early career framework (ECF) reforms’ allocations for eligible participants who undertook year 2 ECF training in the 2022 to 2023 academic year.

To ensure all eligible schools and organisations not captured in the summer 2023 payment window will be paid in-year, a sweep up payment will be made in autumn 2023.

Please ensure all relevant actions are completed on the DfE manage training for early career teachers service page and that your training provider has also confirmed participant engagement with the training programme with the department.

For those schools and organisations within Buckinghamshire who were incorrectly identified as ‘rest of England’ instead of the ‘London fringe’ area, we will also be making payment corrections in the autumn sweep up.

These corrections will be applicable for 2023 funding allocations.

Please note that corrective payments will be made automatically to those affected schools and organisations.

5. Information: the further education (FE) workforce data collection is now open

The FE workforce data collection opened on the 27 September 2023 and will close 26 January 2024.

This collection will:

• provide a better understanding of the implications of government policy reforms, including their impact on the composition of staff and their specialisms.
• provide a greater understanding of contracts and pay in the sector.
• reveal skills gaps in the sector.

We will be publishing outcomes in 2024, for the benefit of providers and key stakeholders, such as Ofsted and sector representatives.

Providers can submit their staff data via the XML file upload process or using Staff Data online form.

The online form is available for providers to submit their vacancy and recruitment data.

The online form is available for FE and sixth form colleges to submit their governor data.

Staff Data Desktop Application is also available to help providers prepare their FE Workforce data and produce an XML file.

We have released guidance documents for the collections to support staff who are completing the collections.

To access the collection, use the Submit learner data sign in process.

Submit Learner Data now uses DfE Sign-in method for authenticating users. Existing IDAMs users should have been migrated to the DfE Sign-in account July 2023. If you require an account, please follow our registration guidance.

6. Information: consultation on initial teacher training

DfE has launched a public consultation on proposals to improve the quality of initial teacher training (ITT) for the FE sector.

We are seeking views on which pre-service ITT courses should be eligible to receive public funding via the student finance system (for example, fee and maintenance loans) to secure the best value for money, with a focus on courses that provide high-quality training and best prepare trainees to teach in FE.

Over the longer term, the department is also considering the use of legislative powers to support a sustainable, quality-focused teacher training system for FE. We are therefore seeking sector views on proposals for a system of accreditation for providers of FE ITT, to improve the quality and breadth of data and evidence we have on the FE ITT system, and to issue statutory guidance for publicly-funded FE ITT providers.

You can find more information on GOV.UK to complete the consultation before 11:59pm, 7 November 2023.

7. Information: National Careers Service Showcase

The National Careers Service provides high quality, impartial and free careers Information, Advice, and Guidance (IAG) for adults in England, helping them to make decisions on learning, training and work.  There is also helpline and webchat support for young people aged 13+, and particular support around the exam results period.

Careers IAG underpins so many elements of DfE’s skills agenda, and careers guidance professionals can help individuals to determine the best learning options to help them meet their goals.

The National Careers Service would like to invite you to join them on their virtual showcase on the 11 October 2pm to 4pm where you will learn more about the Service offer.

If you would like to join the showcase, please email our team at [email protected].

8. Your feedback: volunteers required to test the FE provider performance dashboard

DfE is inviting sixth form colleges and local authority providers of FE to undertake user testing for the FE performance dashboard which forms part of the funding and accountability reforms consulted on last summer.

We are looking for volunteers to take part in a 1:1 remote interview. Your feedback will help us develop the dashboard in line with your needs and requirements.

Research will be carried out from w/c 2 October 2023 to w/c 27 November 2023, and we will contact all volunteers to arrange these sessions.

If it sounds like something you would be interested in, or have any questions, please email the project team mailbox at [email protected] with the following information by 6 October 2023:

• Name and job role
• Provider name
• UK Provider Reference Number (UKPRN)
• Contact details

9. Your feedback: Skills Bootcamps, FE college provider forum

This short survey is for FE colleges only.

We ask for your views on shaping the scope of a Skills Bootcamps provider forum, which could be created to support sharing of best practice in Skills Bootcamps delivery amongst FE Colleges. The forum would run on a termly basis and be open to all FE Colleges across England.

The survey consists of only 3 multiple choice questions. Please submit your responses by 6th October.