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Correspondence

DfE Update further education: 6 May 2026

Published 6 May 2026

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2026

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfe-update-6-may-2026/dfe-update-further-education-6-may-2026

1. Information: College financial planning handbook and college financial forecasting return 2026 now published

We have published the college financial planning handbook 2026 and college financial forecasting return (CFFR) template 2026.We also have published a CFFR user guide that includes updated information on completing the CFFR.

Colleges must complete their CFFR and submit it with any associated documents, including their commentary, through the college financial data service.

This is a mandatory return and part of DfE’s ongoing review of college financial health and budget forecasting.

You will need a DfE Sign-in account to login. If you do not have access to DfE Sign-in, you can make a request to create an account.

We expect the portal to be available from Wednesday 17 June 2026 and will confirm this in a DfE Update when it is live.  All colleges must submit a return on or before Thursday 31 July 2026.

2. Information: 16 to 19 and adult education and skills funding document collection pages

Read our document collection pages for 16 to 19 and adult education and skills funding. The pages will help you understand your funding allocation statements, locate our most recent funding rules and guidance and more.

16 to 19 education and skills funding provides information for schools, colleges, local authorities and independent training providers about 16 to 19 funding arrangements.

Adult education and skills funding provides information on adult education and skills funding allocations, funding rates, calculations and performance management.

3. Feedback: Help shape the expansion of the Teaching Vacancies service into further education provision

DfE is expanding the Teaching Vacancies service  (TVS) to include statutory further education (FE) providers, including FE colleges and sixth-form colleges. The expanded service is expected to be available by the end of 2026.

TVS is the government’s free, national recruitment platform for teaching roles. It is currently used by over 19,400 schools, has hosted more than 93,000 vacancies, and currently attracts around 500,000 monthly visitors. Extending the service to FE will:

  • improve the visibility of FE teaching and lecturing roles in colleges
  • reduce recruitment costs
  • make it easier for jobseekers to find opportunities across education settings

We are inviting FE providers to take part in shaping the service as it is developed and tested.

Volunteers needed, please take action:

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