DfE Update further education: 2 September 2026
Published 2 September 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfe-update-2-september-2026/dfe-update-further-education-2-september-2026
Action: How to claim exceptional learning support for funding year 2026 to 2027
We have published the exceptional learning support (ELS) guidance and cost form for funding year 2026 to 2027. You must complete the form for each DfE-funded learner whose learning support exceeds £19,000 for:
- learners aged 19 and over with an identified learning difficulty and/or disability (LDD) without an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- all age apprentices that have an identified LDD
- advanced learner loans bursary-funded learners with an identified LDD without an EHC plan
All estimated ELS cost forms should be submitted through the Customer Help Portal at the start of a learner’s programme.
Contact your Strategic Authority for support funding for learners funded through devolved adult skills fund (ASF) provision, as referenced in the ASF funding rules.
If you have any questions regarding ELS after reading our guidance, submit them through the Customer Help Portal.
Action: Help us recruit participants for early years qualifications research
We are asking further education (FE) providers to help us recruit participants for upcoming research.
The early years qualifications research team at DfE are looking for people who are currently studying for an early years qualification, or who have completed one in the last 6 months.
The research will help us understand how people find information about qualifications and make decisions about their future careers.
What is involved?
- 60-minute online session
- sessions taking place between 14 and 25 September
- incentives will be provided
Please share this opportunity with anyone who may be interested in signing up.
Information: Adult skills fund for funding calculation rule-base for funding year 2025 to 2026
We have published the ASF funding calculation rule-base for 2025 to 2026.
The rule-base provides the source code used for the ASF funding calculations for funding year 2025 to 2026. It supports providers, management information teams and software suppliers in understanding how learner data is processed and how we calculate earnings from your individualised learner records.
You should read this alongside the wider ASF funding guidance and funding rates and formula documentation.
Information: Young people from households receiving Universal Credit can now receive FE free meals, regardless of household earnings
Young people from households receiving Universal Credit can now receive further education free meals, regardless of household earnings. Students who wish to receive FE free meals for the first time will need to apply. Temporary protections previously in place for some students have ended, so eligibility is now assessed based on current household circumstances.
The free meals in further education funded institutions guide: academic year 2026 to 2027 guidance explains which settings must provide further education free meals, who is eligible and how eligibility should be assessed.
Where eligibility rechecks are still underway, we strongly encourage continued provision of free meals to current recipients until checks are completed.
We appreciate the work settings have already done to support students. Please continue to promote take-up and help eligible students apply.