Upload
others
View
1
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Advanced Learner Loan Events
November 2019
FE Account Managers, Partner Services
Introduction
Agenda
1 Operational Update
2 Performance Management
3 Complex Administration
4 Financial Monitoring
5 Behind The Scenes
6 Continuous Improvement (inc Enhancements)
Operational Update
Operational Update
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
9000
10000 29
-Apr
13
-May
27
-May
10
-Jun
24
-Jun
08
-Jul
22
-Jul
05
-Aug
19
-Aug
02
-Sep
16
-Sep
30
-Sep
14
-Oct
28
-Oct
11
-Nov
25
-Nov
09
-Dec
23
-Dec
06
-Jan
20
-Jan
03
-Feb
17
-Feb
03
-Mar
17
-Mar
31
-Mar
14
-Apr
28
-Apr
12
-May
26
-May
09
-Jun
23
-Jun
07
-Jul
21
-Jul
04
-Aug
18
-Aug
Num
ber o
f App
licat
ions
is
Monthly Volumes of Applications Received
13/14
14/15
15/16
16/17
17/18
18/19
19/20
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
Provider Unapproved Course
Residency Age Arrears Maximum loan
2nd Access to HE
Ineligible Application Academic Year Comparison
17/18
18/19
19/20
Operational Update
Performance Management
Performance Management
Process Submission Accuracy Time to Complete
Process Submission Accuracy Elapse Time to Complete
Unique Learning Numbers 99%
ULNs to be entered within 6 weeks of learning aim start date Where an application is received >4 weeks after learning aim start date, the ULN must be entered within 2 weeks of the application received date
Verification of Study Programme & Notification of Changes
100% accuracy for approved applications before attendance confirmation
No timescale proposed. It is a condition of Attendance Confirmation that details are correct
Initial Attendance Confirmation 99%
Learner attendance confirmations to be entered within 6 weeks of the learning aim start date if the application is approved Where an application is approved >4 weeks after the learning aim start date, the attendance confirmation must be provided within 2 weeks of the approval date
Subsequent Attendance Confirmations 99%
85% Learner attendance confirmations to be provided by payment drawdown date The payment drawdown date is the Thursday prior to the payment date (which is the 3rd Wednesday in the month)
Withdrawals
99%
60% of withdrawal CoCs submitted within 60 days of notification AND 99% of withdrawal CoCs submitted within 90 days of notification
Suspensions
99%
60% of suspension CoCs submitted within 60 days of notification AND 99% of suspension CoCs submitted within 90 days of notification
Service Standards
Performance Management
Attendance Confirmations - Regional Results
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
110% Sept Oct Nov* Dec Jan Feb* March April May* June July Aug Sept
North
Central
South and West
South East
All Providers
Performance Management
A well thought out process is key to ensuring effective attendance management
Clear understanding of “not in attendance”, for
learners, administration and teaching staff
Attendance Management
Attendance Management Discussion
Thinking of your internal processes, what are the trigger points for notifying and following up on a learner’s absence?
What have you done to establish real time reporting
to enable timely attendance confirmations? Historical and outstanding attendances? How do
you identify them?
Performance Management
Important not to lose sight of previous academic years Ensure you regularly check your attendance and CoC worklists Review Payment Schedule & Attendance Report Use the Payment Instalment Report
Attendance Management
Performance Management
Suspensions
Individual learning provider policy is key
to ensuring consistency
Track suspended learners
Teaching staff to ensure accurate
registers and understand the impact of maladministration
Learner can be suspended for up to
12 months
Application will be auto withdrawn at 12
months+
Performance Management
A withdrawal refers to the point at which scheduled learning, teaching and assessment activities, and other active and on-going engagement ends. A withdrawal applies where the learner has no intention to re-engage, and means there is no further SLC loan liability.
Withdrawals
Do you make strategic use of your CoC worklist to manage your administration of Advanced Learner Loans?
How do you ensure accurate and timely
information from your teaching staff? What are the elements of a well thought
out policy for the administration of Advanced Learner Loans?
Suspensions & Withdrawals Discussion
Performance Management
Suspensions and Withdrawals
Awareness of real time information Option to mark learners as not in attendance, whilst you establish status Follow up with the appropriate action to update the learner record Consider the end date when resuming an application Ensure that any subsequent withdrawals are back-dated to the date of initial suspension
Complex Administration
Complex Administration
• For a learner withdrawing on the 7th November, you simply process a withdrawal CoC reflecting this as the last date of attendance.
Identified some examples where a 'not in attendance' confirmation had been submitted prior to a withdrawal
Attendance confirmation required for the period prior to withdrawal date
Problem False
Complex Administration
• In cases of zero fee reduction, it is necessary to follow up with a withdrawal CoC to enable the process for Compelling Personal Reasons (CPR).
• Not necessary to follow up with a backdated withdrawal. Our review of performance identified this as an issue with some providers submitting late withdrawal notifications
Problem False
Complex Administration
It is necessary to submit a fee increase request before the learner completes the course.
• Some requests received after course end date which are not in policy
Problem True
Complex Administration
If a restriction has been applied due to lack of funding in a specific academic year, the learner, if applying later, will be made ineligible if the course crosses into that year.
For example: • Course started in 18/19 • Restriction applied to 19/20: 30/06/2019 • Learner applied: 01/07/2019 • Application ineligible
Problem True
Complex Administration
Reverse withdrawals should only be requested in the case of a genuine error. Be aware that although you can confirm attendance for learners without a verified National Insurance Number (NINO) you will not receive payment. Once a learner’s initial attendance has been confirmed (post liability) they can only transfer to a Learning Aim of the same level and type. Suitable control measures in place regarding issue of LAFIL
Summary
ESFA Presentation
November 2019
23
Actions
Roles and Responsibilities
ESFA: • Designate loans qualifications (c3,500) and
maintain list • Calculate maximum loan amounts (single
activity matrix) • Manage provider base
o market entry/exit o issue loans ‘facility’ and loans
bursary allocation o Issue and manage loan
agreements / rules and audit against these
o pay c£50m loans bursary based on ILR
o Managing facilities o provider ‘management’
• ‘Forecast’ management and reporting
DfE policy team: Determine loans policy Sponsorship of SLC
Service Agreement
Student Loans Company: • Deliver and manage full end to end
customer journey from application through to assessment, payment and repayment
• Support provider data transfer • Make c£208m loan payments to providers
on behalf of learners • Monitor and manage provider compliance
against service standards • Provide secure access for providers to the
portal in order to track and administer learner applications as well as monitor loan facility amount and usage
Role of the Territory Managers
• Oversight of the further education provider base to promote high quality sustainable provision in each territory to protect public money and safeguard the interests of learners
• Assessing risk, managing contracts, and targeted support for providers showing signs of future vulnerability in order to avoid the need for intervention
• Manage early intervention and formal intervention and support structural change.
• Facilitate the introduction of new programmes (e.g. T Levels) and market entry (e.g. new providers)
• Work with local stakeholders on delivery of place-based initiatives (e.g. devolution)
How ESFA calculated allocations for 2019/20
Advanced Learner Loan facilities
How ESFA calculated allocations for 2019/20
Advanced Learner Loan bursaries
• In 2019/20, there are three review points:
o August 2019: first review point for increases and new facility requests only
o November 2019: second review point for increases, reductions and new facility requests
o March 2020: third review point for increases, reductions and new facility requests
• We will offer additional funding (within the growth limits) to good performers (subject to providers meeting the criteria set out in the performance-management rules)
• New growth limits in place for 2019/20:
Advanced Learner Loans Performance Management
Facility as at 1 Aug 2019 Maximum facility growth for 2019/20
£0 £50k Up to £100k £50k Over £100k £1.5m or 50% of facility (whichever is lower)
– limited to £750k at a single review point
3
Exception cases
• In the Advanced Learner Loans performance-management rules we have set out the criteria providers
need to meet to be in scope for growth
• Providers can request to be treated as an exception if they don’t meet this criteria
• This is not an opportunity for providers to tell us how much additional funding they need, it’s to
allow providers to request to be in scope for growth if there are exceptional circumstances
• If an exception case is accepted, then the provider’s increase will be calculated using the same
methodology as all other providers who are in scope for an increase
We may increase your loan facility if funds are available and you meet the following criteria: 155.1. You have delivered and met the criteria for increases against the standard national profile at the review points (annex 3, table 1) 155.2. The value of increase is in line with the limits set out in paragraphs 156 to 159 155.3. You have a good track record (see paragraph 130) including the accuracy of ILR returns in the past (where applicable) 155.4. You are not in formal intervention with the ESFA and not under additional conditions of funding or additional contractual obligations
Details:
Provider has requested that we uplift their 2019/20 facility to the same value as their 2018/19 facility
Reasons for not supporting:
• Nationally consistent methodology was used to calculate allocations
• Allocations were based on delivery – if they had delivered their allocation they would have received a similar allocation for 2019/20
• We can’t continue to keep rolling allocations over, tying funding up with providers who don’t deliver stops funding being available for good performers to grow
Exception case examples Details:
Provider has used 74.4% of their loans facility at PMP1. To be in scope for growth they need to have used 75%
Reasons for supporting:
• If we rounded up they would be in scope for growth
• We can see from SLC data that they have submitted applications that haven’t yet been approved which take them over 75%
Details:
Provider has requested a first time facility of £150k when the maximum allocation is £50k for new providers
Reasons for not supporting:
• We have to ensure all providers are treated fairly. It would not be fair to other providers if we gave this provider more than the published maximum allocation
• The growth limits are in place to ensure public funds and learners are protected
• We want to stop rapid growth that can result in poor quality provision
31
Funding Rules Monitoring (FRM)
2019 to 2020 funding year
Background
What is funding monitoring? • Helps us to assure various ESFA funding streams:
– Apprenticeships (levy, non levy and programmes started before 1 May 2017) – Adult education budget (including 19-24 traineeships) – Advanced Learner Loans
• Supports the development and communication of clear policy and funding rules • We publish suite of FRM reports every month following ILR data submission. These are available on the Hub (data
collections tab). • Follow-up activity includes contacting providers directly and issuing funding recoveries at year-end.
Process How do we do this? • We analyse the data submitted in monthly ILR returns:
– Data quality issues (may affect things such as qualifications achievement rates) – Funding errors (learner may be ineligible, or error has resulted in overclaim)
• Data is compared to other sources:
– Other providers’ data returns (current and previous years) – Student Loans Company (SLC) – Employer data such as Companies House – Apprenticeship Service
• Specialise in identifying data errors and other issues which cannot be validated in ILR currently or
detected through other tools such as the provider data self assessment toolkit.
Supporting documentation • Financial assurance: monitoring the funding rules for post-16 funding for 2019 to 2020 • List all areas we are investigating in that funding year
– Brings rules from several documents together in one place • Funding monitoring reports: user guide
– Provides overview of how/why queries are identified, including report logic – Explains what action needs taking to resolve issues including evidence requirements – Explains what action we will take to verify funding claims and ensure they are correct
• Funding monitoring reports: known issues log – Identifies any issues that may be affecting reports – Advises providers and indicates when issues will be resolved
• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/esfa-financial-assurance-monitoring-the-funding-rules
Timescales • ILR submission closes 4th working day of every month
• Processing and analysis of the data approximately 2 weeks
• Suite of reports published externally after quality assurance date for all providers with data in
scope for FRM (this is usually around the 20th of each month)
• Follow up activity includes contacting providers directly, via letter or through territorial teams
• We may pass some information directly to other teams: – Ongoing audits – Investigation is required to determine issue and resolution
Key themes • Accuracy of data:
– Ensuring consistency of data between ILR and what SLC report to us – Checking for under/over reporting of data in ILR
• Learner protection: – Ensuring learners aren’t exposed to debt that they should not be liable for – Ensuring changes of ownership / managment are reported accurately and in a timely manner – Reviewing prior attainment
• Value for money: – Ensuring funding which is automatically triggered by ILR data reflects loans delivery reported to us by
SLC – Ensuring loans funding is not drawn down too quickly by providers
Useful Docs
Advanced Learner Loans funding and performance management rules 2019 to 2020 Advanced Learner loans catalogue 2019 to 2020 Learning and Funding Information Letters 2019 to 2020 Advanced Learner Loans Maximum loan amounts 2019 to 2020
Financial Reporting
Learning Provider Portal SLC use start and end dates to profile the payments made to provider Learning Provider will complete the LAFIL using this information Learner will enter the dates at the point of application It is the Provider’s responsibility to make sure that this information is correct and submit the appropriate CoC to make necessary changes
Data Returns
LPs have reported learning aims being retrospectively removed from LARS/not being updated meaning learners unable to apply in good time and potentially impacting on ability to be at required usage by review point
SLC review of provider compliance against service standards part of ESFA decision making process
Provider may be asked to correct identified errors prior to growth being agreed
Data share file is not sent at the point providers are notified of a growth award
Provider has to sign and return revised contract before it is sent to the SLC
Factors to Consider
Financial Reporting
Five financial reports available via the LP Portal ‘Learner Search’ screen
• Payment Schedule and Attendance Report
‘Financials Home’ tab • Remittance Report • Loan Facility Details • Loan Position Report • Payment Instalment Report
Loan Facility Details
An overnight batch runs daily
Includes learners with a status of “approved” or “approved awaiting signature”
Includes learners with a status of “NINO not verified
Includes suspended learners as payments still scheduled
Includes learners whose learning aim started in a previous AY and are still in learning
Learners missing evidence are not included
Can be reconciled via the Payment Schedule & Attendance Report
Loan Facility Details
Live Information for the current AY
Loan Facility Details
Loan Facility Percentage Used Message on LP Portal Email Generated
80% ×
90% ×
100%
Warning messages
Payment Instalment Report
This will highlight any learners where attendance has been confirmed but payment not released as NINO not yet verified
A recent enhancement to the report means that you are now able to use the hyperlink to navigate to the Detailed Learner Information page and add a ULN then toggle back to the report
This section details potential payments which are not yet included in the Loan Facility Details report
This section details potential payments which are included in the Loan Facility Details report
Role of the Account Manager
To manage the relationship and Service interactions between SLC and Learning Providers
Tailored 121 account reviews
Implementation plans for policy and process changes
Performance and compliance monitoring
Most frequently, actions relate to untimely attendance confirmations and late withdrawal notifications
Performance & Monitoring
Guidance, Best Practice
FE Engagement Programme
Escalation Point
Policy and Process
Advice and training on
the LP portal
Continuous Improvement
Continuous Improvement
An ongoing effort to improve products, services, and processes. Incremental improvements based on feedback directly from users
Enhancements
Continuous Improvement Digital Signatures
Digital Signatures
Continuous Improvement
Continuous Improvement
Digital Signatures
Digital Signatures
Continuous Improvement
Digital Signatures
Continuous Improvement
Digital Signatures
Continuous Improvement
Digital Signatures
Continuous Improvement
Learning Provider Portal Enhancements Payment Instalment report – Hyperlink on students name
Attendance Worklist Screen Changes
Ability to search for multiple required confirmations
Attendance Worklist
Colour Coded First Attendance Confirmation and Hyperlinked required confirmations
Attendance Worklist
Pop up to allow multiple attendance confirmations to be completed at once
Minor Enhancements
Application id added to search and screen in Learner Search and results screen
• Attendance Worklist export now in CSV format with additional fields Learning Aim title, course location and course trainer.
• Reinstate Auto cancelled applications after ULN has been entered.
Minor Enhancements
We are currently considering the following enhancements for future release • Allow COCs for multiple learners for a change of course end
date. • Allow the end date to be changed after the end date has
passed
Future Enhancements
Have you used any of the new enhancements implemented in the last 12 months? Do you find them useful?
What else would you like to see introduced?
Enhancements discussion
Behind The Scenes
Behind the Scenes Learning Provider Support Line Experience
Behind the Scenes
Application
LAFIL Application Assessment
Pre- liability
View Learner Information Check and amend Information / CoCs ULN Entry
Attendance
Initial confirmation Fixed Quarters
Post-liability
Advise of ongoing changes Suspension / Withdrawal CoCs
SFE Process Overview
Identify prospective learner
Information & Guidance
Accurate LAFIL issued to learner
Learner applies online Provide ID and residency evidence
Check status via online account
Sign and return online declaration Monitor online account Advise SLC of any
changes
Behind the Scenes
Learner Journey
Behind the Scenes
Common Queries
LPs providing redacted versions of the learners
Online Declaration.. Reinstating cancelled
applications Attendance
confirmation in advance.
Incorrect course codes at the start of the academic year.
Behind the Scenes
Learning Providers increasing the tuition fee, although the entitlement amount has not
updated.
Learner is required to submit a Loan Request Form to increase their
loan amount
Learner is linked to an incorrect learning aim. LP is unable to
perform a Learning Aim Details CoC to amend this, as
attendance has been confirmed and Tuition Fees released.
Cannot change to a learning aim of a different
level and type once attendance has been
confirmed.
Withdrawal CoC submitted in error, the learner has suspended
and plans to return in 2020.
If the learner has changed their mind after
originally withdrawing they will be required to
reapply when they return to learning
Common Queries
Behind the Scenes Common Queries
Attendance confirmed and tuition fees paid although the learner is entitled to their first level 3 fee entitlement/ waiver. Can the application be cancelled?
Applications cannot be cancelled once tuition fees
have been released.
Learner has resumed learning however the application was not resumed and is now at the status
of Auto-withdrawn 12 month suspended.
Suspension period cannot exceed a 12 month
duration otherwise the application will be auto-
withdrawn from the original suspension date.
Course start date incorrect on the learners application, unable to perform a CoC to amend this?
Attendance confirmed and Tuition Fees released.
The course start cannot be changed once tuition fees have been released. The
start date must be amended prior to the initial attendance confirmation
(pre-liability stage)
Learning Providers and Brexit
The European Union (EU) has agreed to extend the Brexit deadline until the 31st January 2020 AoC staff have produced a 21 page College Readiness Pack to help those in leadership positions work through the issues. Learners in the 2020/21 academic year will remain eligible for Advanced Learner loans, whether a deal for leaving the EU is in place or not.
https://www.aoc.co.uk/funding-and-corporate-services/brexit
General Update
SLC’s corporate and repayment websites are live on www.gov.uk/slc. The move means that all repayment information and guidance is available in one location. The repayment threshold for post-2012 (plan 2) loans will rise to £26,575 from 6 April 2020. LP Portal Training events – registration opened 21st November
Register Now! - https://www.events-slc.co.uk/events-schedule
Thank you
FE Account Managers Partner Services
www.lpservices.slc.co.uk/