Correspondence

DfE Update further education: 16 September 2026

Published 16 September 2026

Applies to England

1. Information: Payments and allocations for post-16 settings for academic year 2026 to 2027 now published

We have published the payments and allocations for post-16 for academic year 2026 to 2027 GOV.UK page. You can use this page to see what funding your setting should receive and when to expect your allocations and payments for academic year 2026 to 2027. Please use the feedback buttons right at the bottom of the page to say if you find it useful.

Go to our collection pages for more specific funding information, guidance and rules.

2. Information: 16 to 19 funding conditions in respect of charges to students 

The 16 to 19 funding rules set clear expectations on what you can and cannot charge students for. This is set out in paragraph 16 of advice: funding rules for 16 to 19 provision 2026 to 2027.

We would like to particularly remind all institutions that no compulsory enrolment, registration, or examination fees should be charged to students (other than in the exceptional circumstances given), and that there are rules regarding when institutions may choose to charge students. In some cases, such as deposits for lockers, ID cards, keys, or other equipment, these should be fully refundable except in cases of damage or theft.

3. Information: Free school meals checks – operational deadline extended for autumn school census

We have published updated guidance on further education free meals (FEFM), reflecting the expansion of eligibility from the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year and the requirement to recheck eligibility annually.

For institutions recording eligibility for free meals through the autumn school census, the deadline for completing and recording eligibility checks has been extended from 1 October to 2 November 2026. This one-off extension is designed to support successful implementation of the expansion of free meals and new checking arrangements. To ensure eligible learners are reflected in the FEFM grant, institutions completing the school census must complete and record eligibility checks by the new deadline.

Some management information systems may have automatically updated the free school meals (FSM) status of learners who were receiving FSM support in the previous academic year. However, institutions must still complete and record eligibility rechecks for these learners. An automatic status update does not replace an eligibility check.

The extension applies to:

• rechecks for pupils who were receiving FSM support in the previous academic year
• checks for new FSM applications

We are grateful for the work institutions have undertaken to prepare for these changes. Institutions should continue to complete eligibility checks as soon as possible. The extension is intended to provide additional flexibility where required.

Settings should refer to the updated Free meals in further education guidance for operational information, and the updated school census guidance for information on recording eligibility.

4. Reminders: Further education workforce data collection deadline extended to Friday 25 September 2026

Thank you to providers who have completed their further education workforce data collection (FEWDC) 2025 to 2026 return.

If you have not yet submitted your return, the deadline has been extended to Friday 25 September 2026. There will be no further extensions.

The return is a mandatory statutory requirement for all providers. Accurate data helps us build a reliable national and regional picture of the further education (FE) workforce, support workforce policy development and ensure the sector’s needs are reflected in decision-making.

There have been no changes to the collection or guidance since last year. You should be able to update previously submitted information, making the process quicker and easier to complete. Access the specification and supporting guidance for further information.

We are running daily sessions from 11am to 11.30am throughout the collection window to support you in completing your FEWDC. To register your interest, email DCT.BetaSupport@education.gov.uk.

If you require any further help, contact us through the Customer Help Portal.

5. Feedback: Tell us how you use the further education college condition allocation funding

We have this week, emailed FE colleges asking them to complete a short survey about the FE college condition allocation (FECCA). 

The survey results will tell us how you are using FECCA funding, what projects you have delivered, and the difference it has made to your estates. Your feedback will add to our evidence and help shape future policy.

Please share the survey with staff within your setting who manages estates, capital projects, or FECCA funding.

The deadline to complete the survey is Friday 9 October 2026. Thank you for taking the time to share your views.