Correspondence

DfE Update local authorities: 3 September 2025

Published 3 September 2025

Applies to England

1. Action: Reopening of the PE and sport premium digital expenditure reporting return

Please can you cascade this to your maintained schools for action:

Thank you to all those schools who have completed the PE and sport premium expenditure reporting return.

We know some schools experienced digital issues trying to access the form before the original 31 July 2025 deadline.

We have reopened the reporting window, and this will stay open until 5pm Tuesday 30 September 2025.

To note, a school which has converted to an academy after 1 September 2025 should use the school’s previous 2024 to 2025 UKPRN for DfE Sign-in log-in details to access the expenditure reporting return.

All schools that receive this funding must complete and send in the reporting return. This is necessary to meet the grant requirements and failure to do so may result in the Secretary of State recovering some, or all the PE and sport premium grant you have been allocated.

In mid-September, we will contact schools that have not yet submitted a completed return to remind them of the reporting requirements and to take action by Tuesday 30 September 2025.

To help you to meet the deadline, you can read further supporting information in the expenditure reporting guidance.

For any queries, you can contact us via the customer help portal.

2. Action: Access the writing framework: guidance on how to teach writing published 8 July 2025

On Tuesday 8 July 2025, we published evidence-based guidance for all primary school leaders and teaching staff, giving simple, practical advice about how to teach writing in reception, key stage 1, and key stage 2.

Schools should read the writing framework and, during academic year 2025 to 2026, use the audits to evaluate and plan improvements.

Actions:

• access the writing framework
• sign up to the writing framework information webinar for leaders taking place Tuesday 30 September 2025, at 4pm to 5pm

You can find out more, including Ofsted expectations, in Teacher Bulletin, The Literacy Edition.

3. Reminder: Foundation apprenticeships survey

The first foundation apprenticeships launched on Friday 1 August 2025 and are now available for delivery.  

Following the launch, we are inviting existing apprenticeship training providers to complete a short survey.  

The survey is designed to capture your current thinking and help us to understand real-time intentions and respond proactively, including: 

• your organisation’s plans for delivering foundation apprenticeships 

• which occupational standards you intend to offer (or reasons for not engaging at this stage) 

• your confidence in engaging employers and learners 

• what support you may need to deliver this provision effectively 

We know many of you are actively planning your offer for the year ahead, and with much of the apprenticeship provision delivered year-round, we want to give you as much time and flexibility as possible to provide feedback.

Your responses will help us to assess provider readiness and shape the support we offer during the early stages of delivery and help ensure successful early implementation of your foundation apprenticeships.  

The foundation apprenticeship survey will remain open until Wednesday 1 October 2025.

4. Your feedback: Help us to shape the future of education estate management

Are you responsible for managing the land and buildings of your school or further education college? Or do you apply for funding to improve the condition of your estate?

We are developing new online services and tools to support you in managing educational estates.

Your feedback on concepts and designs will help us to create services and tools that are intuitive, efficient and meet your day-to-day needs.

What does taking part involve?

• user research sessions will be held online between September and December 2025
• we will confirm the date and time after we have received your interest
• we’re looking for people to take part in one or multiple sessions, based on your preference

How do I sign up?

Fill out this form to register your interest in taking part and one of our team will contact you.

5. Webinar: RPA Members only workshop: Risk assessment and competent person workshop

Thursday 11 September 2025, 10am to midday.  Register online

6. Webinar: Writing framework information webinar for leaders

Tuesday 30 September 2025, at 4pm to 5pm, Register on Eventbrite.