Based on your feedback, we have added the following enhancements to the Learning Provider Portal:

• when you create a new user on the User Administration page, you can now add the user as a contact for the learning provider to allow a single journey for user setup
• we have added a View History option to the Loan Facility tab on the Financials Home page to allow you to track your loan facility increases and decreases

It is your responsibility to monitor your loan allocation to ensure that you do not exceed it. If you exceed your allocation, the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) will ask us to put a block on approving any new applications.

You can use the financial reports on the Learning Provider Portal to monitor your loan allocation. You can find more information about these reports in our Learning Provider Portal user guide.

Preparing for launch

Your learners will only be able to apply from 15 June if you have returned your AY 2020/21 loans contract to ESFA. Please check that this has been done ahead of the service launch.

ESFA has confirmed that the suggested template for the Learning and Funding Information Letter (LAFIL) for AY 2020/21 will be available to download at the end of June.

If you have any queries about this document, please contact your ESFA territory manager.

Ofqual consultation on awarding vocational and technical qualifications in summer 2020

The consultation decision was published on GOV.UK on 22 May.

In summary, Ofqual has set out an extraordinary framework to permit approaches to issuing results that are not normally permitted. Please also see our COVID-19 FAQ for further information.

The Applicant's Declaration of Identity Form (ADIF)

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been working closely with the Department for Education (DfE) to improve the services we provide and support our learners at this time.

With immediate effect, UK nationals who do not have a UK passport and are applying for Advanced Learner Loans are only required to provide their original UK birth certificate. Learners do not have to provide an ADIF for AY 2020/21 and can confirm their identity with their original birth certificate alone.

Insight gathering

Thank you to everyone who has responded to our recent insight surveys. The information you provide is beneficial and helps us to understand the current priorities of the sector.