Correspondence

DfE Update academies: 1 July 2026

Published 1 July 2026

Applies to England

1. Action: PE and sport digital reporting form 2025 to 2026 now open

The digital expenditure reporting return for the PE and sport premium for the 2025 to 2026 academic year opened on Friday 26 June 2026. Read further details on how to access the return and supporting guidance on completing it.

Due to the forthcoming changes to PE and sport funding, we have significantly reduced the size of the return to make it less burdensome for schools and to collect only necessary information. 

In line with the conditions of grant requirements, schools must complete their digital return and submit by 5pm Wednesday 30 September 2026. 

2. Information: Apprenticeship funding rules

We have published version 1 of the apprenticeship funding rules for the 2026 to 2027 funding year. These rules apply to apprenticeships starting from 1 August 2026.

Following feedback on the draft rules published in April, we have made updates, including:

• changes to subcontracting
• the addition of rules for the apprenticeship hiring payment for non-levy employers.

You should review the updated rules to understand how they affect delivery and funding.

See the summary of changes for full details of updates in version 1.

3. Information: Universal infant free school meals allocations for 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027 academic years

We have published universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) final allocations for the 2025 to 2026 academic year  

We have also published UIFSM provisional allocations for the 2026 to 2027 academic year. These allocations will apply the updated per meal rate of £2.66. 

4. Information: Free school meals expansion – additional resources

From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all pupils from households that receive Universal Credit, will be entitled to receive a free meal.

As confirmed in 13 May 2026 DfE Update, we have published updated  free school meals (FSM) guidance for schools and local authorities, setting out how the new FSM entitlement should be managed.

We have also published a ‘model parent or carer communication’ letter for schools and local authorities to share with parents and carers explaining the changes to FSM from the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year. This sets out details of the new entitlement to all families in receipt of Universal Credit, the end of transitional protections, and actions parents and carers may need to take. Schools and local authorities are encouraged to work together to adapt and issue this communication to ensure families understand how these changes may affect them and whether they need to take any action.

We have also created a ‘model registration form’ for free school meal eligibility which can be used by schools and local authorities to collect parent and carer details.

The ‘model letter for schools and local authorities’ and ‘model registration form’ can both be located using the above link.

5. Information: Individualised learner record returns for 2026 to 2027 academic year

We have published guidance for the individualised learner record (ILR) returns 2026 to 2027 for all institutions that complete the ILR data return.

For 2026 to 2027, we have:

• delayed the planned removal of the R10 reconciliation review. We will continue to use R10 data to review under or over delivery for the 2026 to 2027 academic year. We expect to remove this review stage from the 2027 to 2028 academic year. This allows time to develop the new approach and explain the impact to the sector before its introduction.

• renamed the ‘16 to 19 funding claim report’ to the ‘16 to 19 funded student summary report’. This is because 16 to 19 funding is no longer part of the funding claims process and now only for grant-funded adult provision

If you have questions after reading the guidance, you can find more support in our Customer Help Centre.

6. Information: Association of Colleges to deliver technical and vocational professional development from autumn 2026

From September 2026, the Association of Colleges will deliver technical and vocational professional development. The contract was awarded following a competitive procurement exercise.

The programme will offer fully funded support for a wide range of technical and vocational qualifications, including subject specific training, opportunities for teacher collaboration and leadership support. We will share further details in due course.

Teachers can access the existing T Level Professional Development delivered by the Education Training Foundation, until the end of term.

7. Reminders: Vocational qualifications reform from 2027 – Strategic Transition Planning Statement due by 6 July 2026

On 20 May 2026 we launched the online form for the Strategic Transition Planning Statement (STPS). We have requested statements from all 16 to 19 institutions in England in relation to their current, or plans for, delivery of T Levels and vocational qualifications. Even if institutions are not delivering, or have no plan to deliver these qualifications, they should still confirm this using the same form.

The deadline for all STPS returns is on or before Monday 6 July 2026.

We understand that responses to questions in this statement may be based on best available information at this time. We ask you to provide your best estimates and strategic intentions. We will work with you to ensure your planning assumptions can be updated as further information becomes available.

You can find further STPS guidance, including a recording of the webinar we hosted on Thursday 4 June 2026.

8. Events and webinars: Power hour – budget assumptions

Thursday 9 July 2026, 3pm to 4pm. Register on Eventbrite.

9. Events and webinars: Academies chart of accounts technical updates for 2026 to 2027

Tuesday 14 July 2026, 11am to midday. Register on Eventbrite.

10. Events and webinars: Academies chart of accounts technical updates for 2026 to 2027

Thursday 16 July 2026, 10am to 11am. Register on Eventbrite.