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Guidance

16 to 19 funding: ILR returns

Advice about individualised learner record (ILR) funding returns for institutions funded by Department for Education.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Education
Published:
10 March 2014
Last updated:
1 July 2026
Show all updates

  1. Added 'Advice: Individualised learner record (ILR) funding returns 2026 to 2027' and 'Final funding claim form'.

  2. We have updated the contract institution funding reconciliation adjustments information in the individualised learner record funding returns 2025 to 2026 guidance. We have clarified the process for calculating responsive growth which now includes new rules for affordability checks and the potential recovery of funds. We have confirmed that from academic year 2026 to 2027, we will no longer review under or over delivery based on R10 data.

  3. We have added the ILR returns guidance for 2025 to 2026. '' What's new for 2025 to 2026? We have: - made changes on the requirements for returning final claims for the 2025 to 2026 funding year. Institutions that deliver 16 to 19 education are not required to submit a mid-year claim, year-end claim or sign off a final claim through MYESF. Only institutions that have DfE adult funded provision should follow the advice in the [how to return ILR funding claims to DFE guidance](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-return-ilr-final-funding-claims-to-the-efa) in making their returns to the funding body.  - clarified the process and dates on under performance and overperformance calculations - updated Annex C to reflect the most up to date calculation steps and timelines for recoveries - updated the list of PDSAT report to reflect the post-16 funding reports that are available

  4. We have amended paragraph 14 of the the arrangements section of the Individualised learner record (ILR) funding returns 2024 to 2025 advice.

  5. We have published the 2024 to 2025 ILR funding returns guidance. No funding reconciliation rules have been changed for the coming year with some technical advice on returning final claims updated for this funding year. Traineeship funding ceased after 2023 to 2024 as all continuing students were expected to complete their Traineeships before 31 July 2024

  6. We have added the Advice: Individualised learner record (ILR) funding returns 2023 to 2024 guidance.

  7. We have updated the Advice: Individualised learner record (ILR) funding returns 2021 to 2022 guidance and added the Advice: Individualised learner record (ILR) funding returns 2022 to 2023 guidance

  8. We have made some changes which can be outlined in the 'whats new section', this includes reference in paragraph 4 to a new PDSAT: Study programmes containing significant levels of non-qualification activity. These students should be reviewed to take into account the recently published additional guidance in-year in Funding regulations paragraphs 107 and 124 and in Funding rates paragraph 66 in respect of high levels of non-qualification delivery. This report excludes all students flagged in the ILR for either High needs and/or an EHC plan.

  9. Published the 2021 to 2022 ILR funding returns guidance.

  10. We have updated the ILR funding returns guidance for 2020 to 2021 to include advice on traineeships in-year growth in a new Annex F

  11. We have added guidance in the details section regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) and impact on planned hours for 2020 to 2021. This replicates advice published in the 16 to 19 funding regulations for 2020 to 2021

  12. We have published the ILR funding returns guidance for 2020 to 2021

  13. We’ve updated the ILR returns guide for 2019 to 2020 for 2 reasons. Firstly to update paragraph 29, 31, 33, 48, Annex C paragraph 3, table 2c so that it links to previously communicated(https://www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-education-commercial-and-charitable-providers#coronavirus-covid-19-specific-update) advice on how we’re moderating clawback to take into account recruitment difficulties as a result of coronavirus. Secondly to add in annex E to help providers reduce funding or audit data errors.

  14. We have added the Individualised learner record (ILR) funding returns 2019 to 2020 guidance

  15. To help explain our guidance we have added a powerpoint presentation on ILR funding returns for 2018 to 2019.

  16. The advice for Individualised learner record (ILR) funding returns 2018 to 2019 and 16 to 19 funding claim data checks for 2017 to 2018 and 2018 to 2019 has been added.

  17. The ILR funding returns guidance for 2017 to 2018 and slide presentation has been added

  18. An additional note for the R10 reconciliation statements for 2016 to 2017 academic year has been added.

  19. IRL funding returns for 2016 to 2017 has now been added and also an updated Annex C contract institution reconciliation document

  20. ILR funding returns for 2015 to 2016 added

  21. Updated version of Individualised Learner Record (ILR) Funding Returns 2014 to 2015 and IRL Funding Returns 2014 to 2015 Annex C added

  22. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Advice: Individualised learner record (ILR) funding returns 2026 to 2027

HTML

Final funding claim form

MS Word Document, 616 KB

Advice: Individualised learner record (ILR) funding returns 2025 to 2026

HTML

Advice: Individualised learner record (ILR) funding returns 2024 to 2025

HTML

Details

Funding claims

All ILR funded institutions must submit funding claims by the deadline.

Guidance for returns from previous years can be found on the national archive.

What’s new for 2026 to 2027

  • We have delayed the planned removal of the R10 reconciliation review. We will continue to use R10 data to review under or over delivery for the 2026 to 2027 academic year. We expect the removal of this review stage to take effect from the 2027 to 2028 academic year. This allows time to develop the new approach and communicate the implications to the sector before it is introduced.

  • We have renamed the ‘16 to 19 funding claim report’ to the ‘16 to 19 funded student summary report’. 16 to 19 funding is no longer included in the funding claims process, as this is now exclusively for grant-funded adult provision.

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