LSECT - updates

UPDATE 14-02-11 (click here for MS Word version)

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Funding evidence for the Wolf Review
Professor Alison Wolf has been commissioned by the Government to review 14-19 vocational education, and her final report is due for publication before the end of April 2011. Last week Professor Wolf asked me to provide some funding examples, similar to those I provided for her last book, in the context of a complex system. Having written the paper I thought it might prove a useful resource for members, and Professor Wolf said I could circulate it. Download it here: http://tinyurl.com/6ax6d7e

16-18 Funding Summit
All the materials from the 16-18 Funding Summit can be downloaded from http://tinyurl.com/64hfgrj. This includes the audio from a very useful presentation by the YPLA, which includes confirmation that Foundation Learning funding does not need to be aligned to the Foundation Learning Catalogue.

16-18 Additional Learning Support
The YPLA have produced a useful presentation on Additional Learning Support (ALS) rules and evidence requirements for 2010/11, which can be downloaded from: http://tinyurl.com/6hnptd7. The rules for 2011/12 have not been published yet, although it was confirmed at the 16-18 Funding Summit that they are planning on making the use of ALS more flexible.

LR02 data will be compared with LR01
At the 16-18 Funding Summit the YPLA confirmed that the ILR LR02 data (due before 5pm today) will be compared to the first return for 2011/12 (LR01). The YPLA will be looking for any instances where learners that were LR01 are no longer in LR02 (or have been withdrawn within the minimum attendance period. In other words, the YPLA is checking that the learner count used to set provisional allocations (based on LR01) is not over-inflated. This might happen if, for example, withdrawals were not processed in a timely fashion for LR01.

Business cases for 2011/12 16-18 allocations
The YPLA are accepting business cases for changes to the 16-18 provisional allocations, if submitted before the end of this week (18th February). Business cases should be made if the provider has robust evidence to show that the number of learners and/or their programme size (SLN per learner ratio) will differ from that calculated using the historical Lagged Learner Number method.

16-18 qualifications ~ LAD delays
A news article from the information authority confirms that “There are currently approximately 1,500 qualifications that should be eligible for funding for young people – having been amended and extended through Regulatory IT Systems (RITS) – which are not currently approved on Section 96 and have a last date for new starts which has elapsed and are therefore ineligible for funding for new 16-18 enrolments.” There are also “287 new qualifications which now been approved on Section 96…but there is a slight risk that these amendments will not be made in time to support providers submitting LR02 returns” http://tinyurl.com/6eq7adc

The SFA has a lot of questions still to answer for 2011/12
We are now in the middle of February yet by their own admission the SFA still has a lot of questions to answer. See selection below.

~ Application of Minimum Contract Level for 16-18 Apprenticeships?
~ 16-18 Apprenticeship allocations?
~ Post-19 funding for Sixth Form Colleges?
~ Criteria for payment of Job Outcome Payments in 2011/12?
~ Fee collection/income review and adjust future allocations for non-collection?
~ Further details on Subcontracting rules?
~ Details on arrangements for funding LLDD learners?
~ Details of any changes to OLASS provision?
~ Foundation Learning learners on inactive benefits to be fully-funded?
~ Will the 1.75 SLN cap be reduced in line with the 16-18 reduction?
~ Will there be an ESOL Equalities Impact Assessment?

Expect answers to these over the coming weeks, presumably in a Guidance Note 7.

Adult Funding Summit ~ places going fast
Demand for places at the Adult Funding Summit is particularly high, so book your place soon to avoid missing out on this one-off event. Find out more: http://tinyurl.com/6987cn7

The Spring College Data Conference ~ a few places left
A limited number of places are available for the Spring College Data Conference in London on the 3rd March 2011. Find out more: http://tinyurl.com/CDC-03-03-11

Apprenticeship Funding Summit ~ book now
Are you looking for all the definitive answers as to how Apprenticeships will be funded in 2011/12 (and updates on the SASE, MCL and TtG policy)? Find out more and book you place here: http://tinyurl.com/6cbn6mw

Apprenticeship software ~ sponsored topic
As the 280 minimum guided learning hour requirements come into force from the 6th April 2011 it will be more important than ever to have a good tracking system for Apprenticeship learners. To register your interest in finding out about the Sunesis system simply complete this online form: http://tinyurl.com/45htddv

College media and PR training
Places are still available at this one-off College Media and PR Conference on the 8th March 2011 in London: http://tinyurl.com/5wtv86h. This will also be of benefit to other organisations in the Learning and Skills Sector (such as awarding bodies) so please pass on the link to your Marketing and PR Manager.

And finally….a cupcake for the Principal?
Today is of course Valentine’s Day, and this article today in Poststar.com is quite interesting, as it offers a bit of history. http://tinyurl.com/6dhmvuy
For example, did you know that Valentine was imprisoned and killed on February 14 before being made the patron saint of love? However, it is the end of the article that made me ‘chuckle’. Apparently “Damian Switzer, Bolton Central School’s principal, appreciates it when students deliver handmade cards to his mailbox or bring him a cupcake.”

Kind regards,

Nick
www.twitter.com/nicklinford

P.S. Keep the pets coming: http://tinyurl.com/5t6tg3g. They will get their first group outing at the Spring College Data Conference.