Correspondence

DfE Update academies: 16 July 2025

Published 16 July 2025

Applies to England

1. Information: Grant funding for the early career teacher entitlement (ECTE) year 2 time off timetable and mentor support: conditions of grant

We have published the grant funding for early career teacher entitlement (ECTE) year 2 time off timetable and mentor support: conditions of grant for the 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027 academic year (cohort 2025).

From 1 September 2025, for all ECTs undertaking induction, irrespective of start date, settings that choose to follow the delivery option to design and deliver their own training will be required to register their ECTs on our manage training for early career teachers service to receive the funding.

The grant funding payment schedule can also be found in the ECTE grant information guidance.

Eligible settings do not need to make an application for funding.

We will collect funding eligibility evidence through our  early career teachers service and the induction periods recorded by the ECT’s appropriate body.

2. Information: Early career training programme for mentors (ECTPM): conditions of grant for 2025 to 2026 academic year

We have published the early career training programme for mentors (ECTPM): conditions of grant for 2025 to 2026 academic year.

The grant funding payment schedule is available at grant funding for ECTPM.

Eligible schools and establishments do not need to make an application for funding.

We will collect funding eligibility evidence through our manage training for early career teachers service.

If you have any queries on any of the above, contact continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk.

3. Information: How to report fraud or financial irregularity

If you suspect fraud in the sector, you can find advice on GOV.UK which explains how to report fraud or financial irregularity to us.

Stay informed about the ever-changing fraud landscape and get tips to protect yourself and the sector by registering for future fraud news and alerts from the Counter Fraud team.

4. Information: Interactive post-16 school census tool

We have updated our post-16 interactive tool  to support the return of accurate post-16 school census data.

Some institutions risk not getting the funding they should because of inaccurate data.

This tool will help you understand:

• how your data is used to calculate your post-16 funding
• how common data errors affect your funding

We have noted that providers have had issues recording T Level data correctly, including:

• recording programmes that only last for 1 year, rather than 2
• recording planned hours that fall below the minimum for T Level funding

The tool has information on how we use T Level data, and how incorrect data will affect funding. There is also specific information on recording T Level data.

A suite of post-16 funding reports will be available in COLLECT (Collections online - learners, education, children and teachers). when the autumn census opens in October.

They will show you how your data looks in relation to our post-16 funding calculations. Institutions should use these reports to help with quality assurance of census returns.

If you have any questions, use the customer help centre.

5. Reminder: Budget forecast return: update to guidance and reminder

Trusts will be working to finalise their budget forecast return (BFR), ahead of the 28 August 2025 deadline.

This includes ensuring that their governing body has agreed the forecasts and the assumptions underpinning them, before submitting the return.

As is always the case, trusts should use the best information available to them at the time of preparation.

For information to help support forecasting assumptions, refer to section 3 of the academies budget forecast return guidance.

We have recently updated guidance on: 

• pupil numbers: refer to section 4 of the academies budget forecast return guidance
• academies joining or leaving the trust from 1 September 2025 and future growth strategies: refer to the re-brokerage of academies guide.

6. Webinar: Financial Management Service comparison matrix

Wednesday 23 July 2025, 2pm to 2:45pm. Register on Eventbrite.