External Funding
Introduction
Did you know that a lot of our qualifications are approved for funding by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) which is the government’s accountable body for funding education, apprenticeships and training for children, young people and adults in England?
ESB already works with approved FE colleges, Independent Training Providers (ITPs), schools and academies who receive annual funding allocations from the ESFA whose vision is the same as ours; to support, develop and help fund world-class education and skills provision for every learner to reach their potential, regardless of their background.
Understanding the funding landscape in England can be a bit of a minefield, so we have provided some key information below that relates specifically to the types of funding available for ESB qualifications.
We highly recommend that you refer directly to government and ESFA websites for the most up-to-date information, as funding rules and information does change on a regular basis.
Click here to visit the The Learning Aims Database, also known as ‘The Hub’: The Hub provides information on the type of funding and how much funding is available, per learner for ESB qualification.


Types of funding
14-16 years
Further education and sixth-form colleges are able to enrol and receive funding from the ESFA for students aged 14 to 16 years old. These students complete full-time study programmes that include technical qualifications alongside general qualifications, including English and mathematics, within the Key Stage 4 curriculum. Some requirements for 14-16 funding:
Some requirements for 14-16 funding:
The amount of funding available is dictated by a complex formula, (found here) and the programme weighting for each ESB qualification can be found in The Hub. Contact your college funding team to find out how much funding you can draw down for our qualifications.
16-19 years
The ESFA funds schools, academies, colleges and independent learning providers who deliver Ofqual regulated qualifications to 16-19 year olds. They calculate funding using the 16 to 19 national funding formula, which is driven by student recruitment and includes factors including:
The 16-19 how it works page includes further information about each element within the 16 to 19 national funding formula. For more information on the funding rules for 16-19 year-olds, click on the following this link.
Adult Education Budget (AEB) Funding
The Adult Education Budget (AEB) funds learners aged 19+ in England for approved qualifications that are regulated by Ofqual.
The ESFA manages the majority of these contracts, with the exception of devolved authorities, where funding is managed at a local level.
The devolved areas include:
The ESFA provides further guidance on funding in developed areas here.
Key funding information relating to AEB funding for ESOL qualifications:
ESF Level 3 or 4 Funding
The European Social Fund (ESF) is part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme for Englan. The Programme’s priorities are to increase labour market participation, promote social inclusion, and develop the skills of the potential and existing workforce.
Colleges and training organisations that deliver higher level skills training through the ESF can ask us to include qualifications and/or their components in the European Social Fund (ESF) qualification offer. These qualifications and/or units must be in Ofqual’s Register of Regulated Qualifications, and must be at level 3 or level 4.
For more information, please follow this link.
For further information, please contact us.
ESB International Qualifications Approved for Funding
Qualification Name | Qualification Number | 14-16 Funding | 16-19 Funding | 19+ Funding | ESF Level 3/4 Funding |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESB Level 4 Award in Professional Presentation Skills | 600/0557/7 | x | √ | x | √ |
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Speaking and Listening) (Entry 1) | 601/5445/7 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Speaking and Listening) (Entry 2) | 601/5447/0 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Speaking and Listening) (Entry 3) | 601/5407/X | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Level 1 Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Speaking and Listening) | 601/5465/2 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Level 2 Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Speaking and Listening) | 601/5467/6 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Reading) (Entry 1) | 601/5469/X | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Reading) (Entry 2) | 601/5471/8 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Reading) (Entry 3) | 601/5411/1 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Level 1 Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Reading) | 601/5473/1 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Level 2 Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Reading) | 601/5490/1 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Writing) (Entry 1) | 601/5470/6 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Writing) (Entry 2) | 601/5472/X | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Writing) (Entry 3) | 601/5444/5 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Level 1 Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Writing) | 601/5474/3 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Level 2 Award in ESOL Skills for Life (Writing) | 601/5483/4 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Entry Level Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 1) | 601/5541/3 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Entry Level Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 2) | 601/5540/1 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Entry Level Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life (Entry 3) | 601/5537/1 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Level 1 Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life | 601/5543/7 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Level 2 Certificate in ESOL Skills for Life | 601/5544/9 | √ | x | x | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in Graded Examinations in Speech (Entry 1) (EAL-A1) | 603/0553/8 | √ | x | x | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in Graded Examinations in Speech (Entry 2) (EAL-A2) | 603/0616/6 | √ | x | x | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in Graded Examinations in Speech (Entry 3) (EAL-B1) | 603/0621/X | √ | x | x | x |
ESB Level 1 Award in Speech (Grade 1) | 501/1665/4 | √ | x | x | x |
ESB Level 1 Award in Speech (Grade 2) | 603/6757/X | √ | x | x | x |
ESB Level 1 Award in Speech (Grade 3) | 501/1662/9 | √ | x | x | x |
ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 4) | 603/5192/5 | √ | √ | √ | x |
ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 5) | 501/1668/X | √ | x | x | x |
ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 6) | 501/1669/1 | √ | √ | x | x |
ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 8) | 501/1667/8 | √ | √ | x | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in Preparing for Performing Within a Team (Entry 2) | 600/2968/7 | √ | x | x | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in Communicating with Drama (Entry 1) | 600/3596/1 | √ | x | x | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in Communicating with Art (Entry 1) | 600/3618/7 | √ | x | x | x |
ESB Entry Level Award in Communicating with Music (Entry 1) | 600/3620/5 | √ | x | x | x |