Correspondence

DfE Update academies: 26 November 2025

Published 26 November 2025

Applies to England

1. Action: Additional sessions of the DfE funded Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply procurement fundamentals are available to book now

Further sessions of the DfE funded Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) procurement fundamentals training have been made available.

This free education-specific CIPS training will provide schools and trusts with the principles of procurement and helps support your continuous professional development.

There will be 14 fully funded one day (6 hours) virtual courses available on a range of dates in the spring term, covering essential procurement processes and techniques.

This course will be useful for trust and school-based staff that conduct procurement activities within their role, or for staff that have an interest in specialising in procurement.

You can apply for a fully funded place through the CIPS Procurement Fundamentals Training form.  We recommend you apply as soon as possible, as we expect places to fill quickly.

Applicants who have not been able to secure a place on the spring term course will be added to the reserve list.

2. Information: Early career framewor​k grant allocations for academic year 2024 to 2025

We have published the following grant allocations for academic year 2024 to 2025:

• Funding for time off timetable for early career teachers and mentors who participated in the national roll-out of the early career framework reforms 
• Backfill payments for time off timetable for early career framework (ECF) mentor training.

Allocation payments will be made to local authorities for maintained schools at the end of November 2025 and directly to academies at the start of December 2025.

If you have any queries, please contact continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk.

3. Information: Net capacity assessment programme

Our net capacity assessment (NCA) programme ensures that accurate and up-to-date information on pupil capacity is available for schools in England.

Between 2025 and 2029, Valuation Office Agency (VOA) will visit primary schools to collect data on pupil capacity.

VOA will:

• measure rooms
• record room types
• use the NCA tool and methodology to calculate the number of pupils a school can accommodate

NCA reports will be shared with:

• schools
• local authorities
• dioceses
• multi-academy trusts

For any queries contact dfe.ncaprogramme@education.gov.uk.

4. Reminder: 2026 to 2027 high needs place change process

This is a reminder that the high needs place change process for 2026 to 2027 academic year closes on 5 December 2025.

Schools and colleges should contact their local authorities about their high needs places for the 2026 to 2027 academic year. If no change is requested, in most cases, your 2025 to 2026 academic year place numbers will be used to determine your funding allocation.

You can read the guidance on the high needs place change process, alongside the spring 2025 census data for high needs pupil numbers in special academies and free schools, and the place numbers for 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026.

You can use these to inform your discussions about commissioning arrangements for the 2026 to 2027 academic year.

5. Webinar: Academies chart of accounts and automation Question and Answer drop-in session

Wednesday 3 December 2025, at 11am to 11:30am. Register on Eventbrite.

6. Webinar: Automating your accounts return

Thursday 4 December 2025, at 1pm to 2pm. Register on Eventbrite.

7. Webinar: Automating your accounts return

Tuesday 9 December 2025, at 10am to 11am. Register on Eventbrite.

8. Webinar: Power Hour: Academies Accounts Return

Wednesday 10 December 2025 at 3pm to 4pm  Register online