DfE Update further education: 4 March 2026
Published 4 March 2026
Applies to England
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1. Action: Apply for the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education by Tuesday 24 March 2026
Further education (FE) providers that offer higher education courses must apply for the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) if they wish to apply for Erasmus+ higher education (HE) funding. This rule applies whether you are applying as HE mobilities or partnerships, an individual organisation or as a consortium. ECHE is not required if you are applying for Erasmus+ schools or vocational education and training (VET) funding.
The deadline to submit applications for ECHE has been extended to Tuesday 24 March 2026 for institutions intending to participate in the 2027 funding call. Institutions can apply on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.
Universities UK International have recorded a ECHE webinar for UK higher education institutions (HEIs) that outlines what to expect from the application process.
2. Action: FE targeted retention incentive now open for claims
The targeted retention incentive claim window for the 2025 to 2026 academic year is now open.
Eligible teachers in their first five years of teaching key STEM and technical subjects in FE provision can claim up to £6,000 after tax.
Teachers employed by eligible FE providers during this current academic year who meet published criteria can submit claims between Monday 2 March and Sunday 31 May 2026. Eligible FE providers are general FE colleges, sixth form colleges, specialist designated institutions (SDIs) and 16 to19 only academies and schools.
Human Resources (HR) staff at eligible FE providers will verify claims from Monday 13 April 2026. Further guidance to support FE providers will be emailed directly to HR staff later this month.
HR staff should have already received an email on Thursday 12 February confirming contact details. Those who have not should email FE-targeted.retention-incentive@education.gov.uk.
3. Information: Apprenticeship off-the-job training hours – Annex C
The minimum off-the-job training hours for each apprenticeship standard is available on the Skills England website. You can find the figures in the key information banner labelled ‘Minimum hours for compliance’.
Skills England will now host all up to date information, so we have no plans to update Annex C of the apprenticeship funding rules. You should use the Skills England website for the latest requirements.
Annex C will stay online for reference only. It shows the lower figures used during the August to December 2025 transition period.
4. Reminders: Manage your education estate digital service is now live
Responsible bodies, schools and colleges can now access our new digital service, manage your education estate through DfE Sign-in.
Manage your education estate brings DfE estates guidance, data and tools together in one place for the first time.
It is designed to support those responsible for school and college buildings (‘responsible bodies’) to manage their estate.