DfE Update further education: 30 September 2026
Published 30 September 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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1. Action: Care to Learn and 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, defined vulnerable groups element, funding claim form
The Care to Learn scheme and the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, defined vulnerable groups element, funding claim forms are now live.
The deadline for your submission is 5pm on Wednesday 11 November 2026.
Use our Care to Learn and 16 to 19 Bursary Fund for defined vulnerable groups funding claims guidance to help you complete your submission, which includes the link to the form.
We are unable to accept funding claims that miss the closing date. These must be submitted in the second claims window in January 2027.
2. Action: Declare your subcontracting arrangements for the 2026 to 2027 academic year
Post-16 providers are required to submit a fully completed subcontractor declaration on manage your education and skills funding.
The window for declaring arrangements for the 2026 to 2027 academic year is now open.
Providers must submit their forecasted subcontracting declarations before Friday 30 October 2026. If you do not subcontract, you must still provide a nil return to confirm this. You can find further information on How to declare subcontracting for post-16 education and training.
If you require further information, contact us through the Customer Help Portal.
3. Information: Adult skills fund – future contracting plans
Current procured adult skills fund (ASF) contracts for services will expire on 1 August 2027.
We do not intend to carry out a national procurement exercise for the 2027 to 2028 academic year. Instead, we will continue to expand the ASF pathway to devolution programme.
Each academic year, more areas take responsibility for devolved adult skills funding. As a result, the proportion of funding delivered in non-devolved areas reduces.
Through the programme, funding previously delivered through directly procured contracts in non-devolved areas will transfer to local authorities. Using their knowledge of local skills needs, local authorities can commission appropriate providers to deliver the right training for their area.
This change will not impact providers with grant funding agreements.