Collection

Section 251 documents

Documents to help local authorities comply with section 251 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009.

From:
Department for Education and Education and Skills Funding Agency
Published
19 February 2013
Last updated
2 April 2025 — See all updates

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) closed on 31 March 2025. All activity has moved to the Department for Education (DfE).

This page contains links to information to help local authorities prepare and submit annual budget and outturn statements about their planned and actual spending to the Secretary of State.

The statements cover spending for education and children’s social care functions as required under section 251.

Section 251 replaces section 52 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 in England. Section 52 still applies in Wales.

The statements are the primary means of informing schools and the public about local authority funding and spending plans. They provide detailed information in a form that allows benchmarking by schools forums and authorities.

Section 251 queries

If you have questions or need further information about section 251, please contact us via our Customer Help Portal.

Section 251: 2025 to 2026

This guidance contains information for local authorities, schools and the general public about local authority education funding and expenditure plans for 2025 to 2026.

Section 251: 2024 to 2025

This guidance contains information for local authorities, schools and the general public about local authority education funding and expenditure plans for 2024 to 2025.

Updates to this page

Published 19 February 2013
Last updated 2 April 2025 show all updates

  1. Section 251: 2025 to 2026 has been added.

  2. We have added the link to the section 251: 2024 to 2025 guidance.

  3. We've added the link to the section 251: 2023 to 2024 guidance.

  4. Added the section 251: 2022 to 2023 page.

  5. We've added the link to the section 251: 2021 to 2022 GOV.UK page.

  6. We have added the section 251 guidance page for 2020 to 2021.

  7. We've added a link to the section 251: 2019 to 2020 guidance.

  8. We've added the section 251 2018 to 2019 documents to the collection.

  9. Updated with links to section 251: 2017 to 2018 guidance page.

  10. Update to add 2016 to 2017 Budget guidance and tables.

  11. Added 'Section 251 outturn: 2014 to 2015 data'.

  12. Updated to add 2013 to 2014 outturn data.

  13. Updated to add budget workbooks for 2014 to 2015.

  14. Updated to include the section 251 administrative direction and with the 2013 to 2014 outturn guide for local authorities.

  15. First published.

Contents

Related content