Correspondence

DfE Update local authorities: 3 June 2026

Published 3 June 2026

Applies to England

1. Action: Submit Care to Learn and 16 to 19 Bursary Fund for defined vulnerable groups funding claims

The third submission window is now open for academic year 2025 to 2026. Use our Care to Learn and 16 to 19 Bursary Fund for defined vulnerable groups guidance when completing the form. 

You must submit new funding claims using our form on or before Wednesday 1 July 2026 for the:

• Care to Learn scheme 

• 16 to 19 Bursary Fund for defined vulnerable groups 

You can also use this window to submit late claims for both schemes or adjust previous claims.  

Local authorities are responsible for submitting defined vulnerable group bursary claims on behalf of maintained special schools and for eligible students they place in independent provision. 

1.1 Submit end of year data 

If you claimed Care to Learn funding in the first or second submission window, then you must also submit end of year data using the same digital form as your funding claims on or before Wednesday 1 July 2026. We will recover funding in full if you do not provide this data. 

You do not have to submit end of year data for 16 to 19 bursary fund for defined vulnerable groups. 

2. Information: Capital funding to improve the condition of schools 2026 to 2027

We have published final school condition allocations and devolved formula capital for financial year 2026 to 2027, updated from provisional allocations published in March.

This is part of over £2.1 billion committed for 2026 to 2027 for improving the condition of the school estate. It is in addition to our continued investment in the school rebuilding programme, targeted support for schools with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete and launching a new Renewal and Retrofit Programme - as set out in the education estates strategy. The strategy outlines plans for an education estate that supports opportunity for all.

Final allocation amounts and the condition funding methodology and spend guidance are available in the school capital funding guidance and eligible responsible bodies can also view allocations at Manage your education estate.

3. Information: Individualised learner record reports guidance for 2025 to 2026

We have updated the individualised learner record (ILR) funding reports for funding year 2025 to 2026 on the check ILR reports for possible data errors in your return guidance page.

This update includes information on how apprenticeship units are incorporated and introduces new reports for this funding year.

We have updated the cross year indicative payments report and updated the funding line types for adults and apprenticeships to include short courses.

We have also created the following new reports:

• funding summary report with short courses
• funding summary report with short courses (produced at period end)
• short courses indicative earnings report
• short courses monthly payments report
• short courses co-investment contributions report

Read our guidance to understand the new reports.

4. Information: Local authority planning calendar 2026 to 2027

We have published the local authority planning calendar for 2026 to 2027.

The calendar shows important dates for payments, publications and local authority actions for the period of April 2026 to March 2027.

The calendar is for planning purposes only. Dates are provisional and may be subject to change.

5. Reminder: Deadline for incorporating any new schools or changes to split site schools into the 2027 to 2028 schools national funding formula 

The schools national funding formula (NFF) includes a split sites factor, allocating additional funding for mainstream schools operating over more than one site. 

Local authorities should email fundingpolicy.queries@education.gov.uk to report any new split sites or changes to existing split sites. The deadline for new schools to be included in the 2027 to 2028 schools NFF is Friday 19 June 2026.  

You can read further information about the eligibility criteria for split sites funding in the schools operational guide: 2026 to 2027. 

Note that split sites funding only covers mainstream schools, funded through the schools NFF. You can view the full list of spilt site schools in the schools block national funding formula: split sites funding. 

6. Events and webinars:  Risk protection arrangement members only: Pupil Well-being Workshop

Wednesday 17 June 2026, 10am to 12pm. Register via Teams