Correspondence

DfE Update local authorities: 4 February 2026

Published 4 February 2026

Applies to England

1. Action: Care to Learn and 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, defined vulnerable groups element, funding claim form

Funding claim forms for Care to Learn scheme and the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund defined vulnerable groups element are now live. You must submit your claim by 5pm on Wednesday 11 February 2026.

You can use this window to send any new funding claims that you did not make in the first claim window. You cannot change claims you have already submitted.

Adjustments can only be made in the third window later in the year.

The only exception is when we contacted you about a first window claim and agreed that you can resubmit it in this window.

We will not accept late claims. Any claims that miss the closing date must be submitted in the final window.

Guidance to help you complete your submission is available and includes a link to the form.

2. Action: Submit your mid-year funding claim for adult funding for 2025 to 2026

The mid-year funding claim window for adult funding will open at 9am on Monday 9 February 2026.

16 to 19 funding is no longer included in the funding claims process as we have removed the requirement to sign the final funding claim in the Manage your education and skills funding service.

Submit your adult mid-year funding claim by 5pm on Friday 20 February 2026. The claim form will be available on submit learner data.

The funding claims user guide is available to help you complete the form. 

You will need to submit a claim if you receive funds through these contracts:  

• grant funded - adult skills fund (ASF)
• grant funded - free courses for jobs offer (FCFJ)
• grant funded - advanced learner loans bursary (ALLB)

We will review claims to ensure they are substantiated by the data you have submitted in your individual learning record (ILR) and present value for money.

Once you have submitted your adult mid-year funding claim on submit learner data, you will also be able to view it on Manage your education and skills funding.

If you have any queries, use our Customer Help Portal

3. Information: Apprenticeship non-levy procured allocations from 3 February 2026

This week we will be extending apprenticeship non-levy procured contracts to cover financial year 2026 to 2027.

These allocations will include funding to cover the carry in cost of learners who started on or before 31 March 2021. From 1 April 2021, all new apprenticeship starts are funded through the apprenticeship service.

Allocations will be issued in a digital format on Manage your education and skills funding.

You need one of the following roles to view your allocation statement:

• contract authoriser
• contract manager
• contract user
• data returns and claims authoriser

We aim to upload contract extensions to manage your education and skills funding by early March. Training providers must ensure they have signed the contract extension before the current contract expires on 31 March 2026.

Business case requests

Section 5 in our allocation technical guidance 2026 to 2027 explains when and how to raise a business case using the digital form.

If you have questions after reading our guidance, or if there is anything else you need help with, you can find more support in get help with DfE services.

4. Information: Maximising value for pupils programme guidance

The Maximising value for pupils programme brings together guidance and tools to support you get best value from every pound.

You’ll find practical resources including:

• updated financial benchmarking tools
• a banking comparison tool to maximise interest on reserves
• free procurement training
• school resource management adviser support

Visit the guidance for schools and trusts pages to explore the support available and identify opportunities to reinvest savings back into improving outcomes for pupils.

5. Information: Access free support through Internships Work

There are only a few months left to access free support through Internships Work, the fully funded programme that has strengthened supported internships across England since 2022 and provides a structured route into paid employment for young adults with additional needs.  

The programme ends in March, although Internships Work online resources will remain available.

Until then, local authorities, providers and partners can contact their regional lead for long term planning support, book employer engagement training for SEND Employment Forums, complete a self‑assessment using the quality framework with an optional peer review, and attend the online conference on 24 February.

The event will share successes, learning from the pilot for young people without education, health and care plans (EHCPs) and guidance for parents and carers.

We can confirm supported interns are in full time education and are not required or expected to be paid. They are exempt from National Minimum Wage regulations and supported internships are outside the scope of the Employment Rights Act 2025 and the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

6. Your feedback: Help shape the future of the school-based nursery programme

Are you part of a local authority team responsible for nursery or childcare provision, or pupil places and planning?  We need your expertise.

We are transforming the school-based nursery capital grant application process, and your voice can make a real impact. We would like to speak with people throughout February 2026.

Sign up now to:

• try out new designs and prototypes
• share your feedback and influence future improvements
• help create a smoother, smarter application process

Register your interest to participate in user research sessions and our team will be in touch to schedule a time convenient for you.

Your input will help us understand the needs of all users and create a process that works for everyone.

7. Webinar: Risk protection arrangement members only: Flood and storm resilience workshop

 Thursday 19 February from 10am to midday.  Register online.