DfE Update academies: 4 November 2026
Published 4 November 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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1. Action: Submit your Care to Learn and 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, defined vulnerable groups element, funding claim form by Wednesday 11 November
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.
Before you submit your claim, read our Care to Learn and 16 to 19 Bursary Fund for defined vulnerable groups funding claims guidance. It explains the information you need to complete your submission correctly and includes a link to the funding claim 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: Academies accounts return 2025 to 2026 online form now open
The academies accounts return 2025 to 2026 online form is now open. Trusts can complete and submit their return through the DfE Sign-in service on or before Tuesday 26 January 2027.
If you do not have a DfE Sign-in account, register and create one to access the form. If you need support, use the DfE Sign-in help assistant.
The trust’s external auditor approver must submit the accounts return. Check that your external auditor’s details are correct in the online form as soon as possible. This will help ensure they can access the return and avoid delays to submission.
Read the academies accounts return guidance for further information.
To support trusts with completing the return, we are hosting a series of sector calls.
See the ‘Events and webinars’ section below for a link to view the schedule and register for a session.
3. Information: Breakfast club summer term arrears payment, and autumn upfront payment
We have published two October allocations spreadsheets for the free breakfast clubs grant 2025 to 2026. These show:
- summer term arrears allocations for the 2025 to 2026 academic year
- spring term arrears allocations for a small number of schools for the 2025 to 2026 academic year
We have also published allocations for the free breakfast clubs grant: 2026 to 2027 . These are the upfront allocations for the autumn term 2026 to 2027 academic year.
All allocations were paid at the end of October 2026 to local authorities and will be paid at the beginning of November 2026 to academies.
4. Information: Condition funding for 2027 to 2028
On Wednesday 21 October 2026, we confirmed the launch of the financial year 2027 to 2028 bidding round for the condition improvement fund (CIF) and contacted eligible schools and sixth-form colleges.
Eligible schools in smaller academy trusts, smaller voluntary aided (VA) bodies and sixth-form colleges should apply to CIF if they have condition investment requirements.
Local authorities, eligible larger multi-academy trusts (MATs) and eligible larger VA school bodies instead receive a school condition allocation (SCA) to invest across their schools. We have notified MATs and VA groups that are eligible for SCA in financial year 2027 to 2028.
5. Information: Book your regional in-person training
School business professionals (SBPs) can book places on the latest training sessions including:
- human resource management and flexible working
- leadership and leading change
- leading ICFP Together (integrated curriculum and financial planning)
- strategic planning and operational leadership
- procurement
Funded by DfE and delivered in partnership with the Institute of School Business Leaders, these regional events provide practical support to help school leaders and SBPs strengthen their professional skills and make informed decisions that support long-term school success.
Please note, “Leading ICFP Together” is designed for SBPs to attend with other leaders from their school or trust, for example, headteacher or governor. We strongly encourage everyone to book their places with a colleague or colleagues.
Events feature a morning and afternoon session. 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.
6. Reminders: 2027 to 2028 high needs place change process
This is a reminder that the high needs place change process for 2027 to 2028 academic year closes on 6 November 2026.
Schools and colleges should contact their local authorities about their high needs places for the 2027 to 2028 academic year. If no change is requested, in most cases, your 2026 to 2027 academic year place numbers will be used to determine your funding allocation.
You can read the guidance on the high needs place change notification process, alongside the spring 2026 census data for high needs pupil numbers in special academies and free schools, and the place numbers for 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027. You can use this to inform your discussions about commissioning arrangements for the 2027 to 2028 academic year.
7. Feedback: Improving the view of universal infant free school meals funding information – November 2026 and January 2027
We are improving the way colleagues at local authorities and multi-academy trusts view funding information.
We welcome your feedback on the design currently in development and encourage participation from everyone who views funding information related to universal infant free school meals (UIFSM).
Online Microsoft Teams feedback sessions will run from Monday 16 November to Friday 20 November and from Monday 11 January to Friday 15 January and will last up to 60 minutes.
We will contact you to confirm your session date and time once we receive your expression of interest.
Please register your interest to take part.
8. Events and webinars: Academies accounts return sector calls
Several dates available.
View the schedule and register on Eventbrite.
9. Events and webinars: Book your regional in-person training
- Thursday 5 November 2026: Sheffield (DfE office), Exeter and Leicester
- Tuesday 10 November 2026: Canterbury
- Wednesday 11 November: London
- Thursday 12 November: Chelmsford and Sheffield (DfE office)
Book through the ISBL booking page.
10. Events and webinars: Risk protection arrangement Members only – The Regulatory Mock Trial
Tuesday 10 November 2026. 9am to midday. Register on MS Teams
11. Events and webinars: Power Hour – The upcoming MIS framework: What schools and trusts need to know and do
Wednesday 11 November, 1:30pm to 2:30pm Register on Eventbrite
12. Events and webinars: Power Hour: Banking for schools – Is your school making the most of its money?
Thursday 12 November 2pm to 3pm. Register on Eventbrite