Correspondence

DfE Update local authorities: 30 September 2026

Published 30 September 2026

Applies to England

1. Action: Check your 16 to 19 data before the autumn school census return

The autumn school census collection opens on Thursday 1 October 2026.

You must make sure the data you submit to us is accurate so we can calculate your funding allocations correctly.

This is particularly important as we will no longer review how providers are recording the core aim flag against learning aims or correct significant errors, as we have in previous years.

To avoid errors in recording core aims that could affect your funding, use the following tools to help you get your data right:

• 16 to 19 funding reports and the ‘Removing the core aim fix for 2027 to 2028 allocations’ guide – on the ‘Check your data’ school census page under the heading ‘16 to 19 funding reports - autumn 2026’
• the school census interactive tool sets out how your data is used to calculate funding

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 (to note, schools and academies do not need to submit a declaration). You can find further information on How to declare subcontracting for post-16 education and training.

Use the Customer Help Portal if you have any questions.

3. 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.

4. Information: Pupil premium allocations for the 2026 to 2027 financial year – quarter 2 update

We have published the quarter 2 update for pupil premium allocations for 2026 to 2027 financial year.

If you have any questions, contact us through the Customer Help Portal. 

5. 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.

6. Information: New local authority-maintained school data now live in the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool  

The latest financial data for local authority-maintained schools (2025 to 2026) is now available in the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (FBIT).

FBIT is the sector’s go-to resource for benchmarking spending and identifying opportunities for improvement, used by 98% of schools in the last year.

If you are new to FBIT or fancy a refresher you can join one of our free webinars.

See the ‘Events and webinars’ section below, to book your place.

7. Information: Book your regional in-person training

School business professionals can book places on the latest courses including:

• human resource management and flexible working

• leadership and change

Funded by DfE and delivered in partnership with the Institute of School Business Leaders (ISBL), these regional events provide practical support to help schools with leadership, people management and financial planning.

Upcoming sessions

• Thursday 1 October 2026: Sheffield (DfE office)
• Monday 5 October 2026: Exeter
• Tuesday 6 October 2026: Canterbury and Manchester
• Wednesday 7 October 2026: Chelmsford
• Tuesday 13 October 2026: Leicester
• Wednesday 14 October 2026: Durham and Birmingham
• Thursday 15 October 2026: London (DfE office)

Each date features a morning and afternoon session. Whilst not mandatory we encourage you to book both sessions for the greatest benefit.

Places are available now. See the ‘Events and webinars’ section below, to secure your place.

8. Events and webinars: Book your regional in-person training

• Thursday 1 October 2026: Sheffield (DfE office)
• Monday 5 October 2026: Exeter
• Tuesday 6 October 2026: Canterbury and Manchester
• Wednesday 7 October 2026: Chelmsford
• Tuesday 13 October 2026: Leicester
• Wednesday 14 October 2026: Durham and Birmingham
• Thursday 15 October 2026: London (DfE office)

Book through the ISBL booking page.

9. Events and webinars: Risk protection arrangement members only – accidents and incidents workshop

Wednesday 7 October 2026, 10am to midday. Register via Teams.

10. Events and webinars: A brief introduction and advanced features of the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool 

• Wednesday 7 October 2026, 3pm to 4pm
• Tuesday 13 October 2026, 3pm to 4pm
• Thursday 5 November 2026, 3:30pm to 4:30pm
• Tuesday 24 November 2026, 3pm  to 4pm

Register on Eventbrite.