Correspondence

DfE Update local authorities: 19 November 2025

Published 19 November 2025

Applies to England

1. Action: Record your T Level data correctly

We use your R04 data to calculate T Level under-and over-delivery and therefore your clawback or growth payments.

You must record this data correctly because we will not accept business cases to change these numbers. Use the checklist in our guidance to help ensure accuracy.

Errors may lead to:

• unexpected funding recovery or reduced growth payments during reconciliation in early 2026
• reduced funding allocations for 2026 to 2027 because we use your carry-in data to produce next year’s allocations

Don’t wait until the deadline, Thursday 4 December 2025. Submitting early gives you time to review and amend your data.

2. Action: Adult skills fund performance management review – December 2025

The adult skills fund (ASF) performance management request form is now available on GOV.UK.

At the performance management review, providers will have the opportunity to raise the following requests:

Grant providers with an ASF contract can request:

• a first-time request for DfE funded free courses for jobs up to the value of £45,000
• top up an existing DfE funded free courses for jobs allocation if it is below £45,000
• an exceptional request for growth on free courses for jobs if you do not meet the set criteria from the funding and performance management rules

Contract for services providers with an ASF contract (procured from August 2023) can request:

• an exceptional request for growth on ASF and free courses for jobs if you do not meet the set criteria from the funding and performance management rules
• an exceptional request for exemptions from an automatic reduction of your allocation if your delivery is below the published threshold

Full details and guidance are available within the form.

The deadline for submissions is 5pm Wednesday 3 December 2025.

For further information on the performance review of adult skills fund, please refer to the adult skills fund: funding and performance management rules 2025 to 2026.

3. Information: National funding formula for 2026 to 2027

On the 19 November 2025, the Minister of State for School Standards made a written statement setting out the schools and central school services (CSSB) national funding formulae for 2026 to 2027. 

You can view the provisional 2026 to 2027 NFF allocation tables for schools and CSSB and technical notes along with the policy document detailing the changes.

Local funding arrangements in 2026 to 2027 are outlined in the schools operational guide.

We will publish the high needs NFF allocations and high needs operational guide at a later date.

4. Information: Ensure your IT support is meeting your needs and providing value for money

The new IT support standard is the latest addition in our set of existing digital and technology standards, which support schools and colleges to understand and implement safe and reliable technology.

The new standard helps schools and colleges to understand what  to expect from their IT support, supports meeting digital and technology standards, and ensures value for money. 

It helps schools and colleges: 

• understand what ‘good’ IT support looks like 
• set clear expectations for IT support services and understand their role in procuring and managing effective IT support 
• gain assurance in IT services they are buying and using

The standard is designed to be flexible for different school and college contexts. It positions IT support as a strategic partner in digital transformation.

5. Information: Explore new features on Plan technology for your school

Plan technology for your school is a digital service to help schools make strategic decisions about what technology to buy and how to implement it effectively.

It is free and helps schools to self-assess their current technology set up
and receive bespoke recommendations on what to improve next, why and how.  

We have improved functionality on the service, which means users can now: 

• return to and update recommendations, once they have acted on previous recommendations, more efficiently
• track progress against the six core digital and technology standards, which all schools are expected to meet by 2030, more effectively
• receive more streamlined, actionable recommendations

6. Information: International fraud awareness week  17 to 21 November

International fraud awareness week is a global campaign to minimise the impact of fraud by promoting anti-fraud awareness which we support annually. It is the perfect time to strengthen your institution’s defences.

Why it matters

Fraud can impact funding, operational stability, and trust of and within an organisation. Awareness is the first step toward prevention.

What you can do:

• host discussions about common fraud risks
• share resources and encourage reporting of suspicious activity
• review the fraud awareness good practice guide for education and training providers. It covers understanding of fraud, prevention, detection, and reporting, and a variety of supportive resources for providers. The guidance also offers suggestions for developing counter fraud policies and approaches.

Register to receive future fraud updates and alerts from the Counter Fraud team on the ever-changing fraud landscape and how to protect yourselves and the sector.

Report fraud or financial irregularity to DfE

7. Webinar: DfE Energy for schools webinar

Thursday 4 December 2025, at 9.30am to 10am. Register online.