Guidance

Local authorities planning calendar for the 2025 to 2026 financial year

Published 7 May 2025

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authorities-planning-calendar-2025-to-2026/local-authorities-planning-calendar-for-the-2025-to-2026-financial-year

1.  April 2025 

1.1  Local authority action: 

1.2  Payment: 

1.3  Information: 

  • DfE issues updated DSG allocations for the 2025 to 2026 financial year, for in year recoupment and high needs deductions

2.  May 2025 

2.1  Local authority action:                

  • complete summer school census 
  • deadline for submitting NNDR new claims for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (by 22 May) 
  • submit schools financial value standard (SFVS) and assurance statement   for the 2024 to 2025 financial year (by 30 May) 
  • complete section 151 (s151)  return to DfE to confirm that revenue grants for schools paid in the 2024 to 2025 financial year have been spent in line with the conditions of grant (by 30 May) 

2.2  Payment: 

2.3  Information:

  • DfE issues CSBG allocations for special and AP schools, for the 2025 to 2026 financial year
  • DfE issues school level allocations for the National Insurance contributions (NICs) grant for the 2025 to 2026 financial year for schools, and local authority-level allocations of this grant for early years
  • DfE issues the online form for the 2025 summer term early years data collection

3.  June 2025 

3.1  Local authority action: 

3.2  Payment: 

  • DfE makes third payment of the DSG for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (4 June) 
  • DfE makes first quarterly pupil premium payment for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (30 June)  
  • DfE makes universal infant free schools meals (UIFSM) payment to local authorities for the 2024 to 2025 academic year (30 June)       
  • DfE makes NNDR payment for new claims for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (30 June) 
  • DfE makes payment for post-16 budget grant for April to August 2025

3.3  Information: 

4.  July 2025 

4.1  Local authority action: 

4.2  Payment: 

4.3  Information: 

5.  August 2025 

5.1  Local authority action: 

  • submit s251 outturn statements for the 2024 to 2025  financial year 

5.2  Payment: 

  • DfE makes fifth payment of the DSG for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (5 August) 

5.3  Information: 

6.  September 2025     

6.1  Local authority action: 

6.2  Payment: 

6.3  Information: 

  • DfE issues s251 2025 to 2026 financial year raw budget data 

7.  October 2025 

7.1  Local authority action: 

  • complete autumn school census 
  • 2026 to 2027 high needs place change process begins - discussions of place requirements with providers

7.2  Payment: 

  • DfE makes seventh payment of the DSG for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (3 October) 
  • DfE makes NNDR payments for positive in-year adjustments for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (31 October) 
  • DfE makes payment of the NICs grant for 2025 to 2026 to mainstream academies

7.3  Information: 

8.  November 2025

8.1  Local authority action: 

  • complete the 2025 autumn term early years data collection
  • submit 2026 to 2027 high needs place change workbook to DfE
  • submit DSG chief finance officer assurance statement and note to the accounts for the 2024 to 2025 financial year  

8.2  Payment: 

8.3  Information: 

  • DfE issues updated DSG allocations for the 2025 to 2026 financial year, for in year recoupment and high needs deductions 
  • DfE issues updated final DSG allocation for early years for the 2025 to 2026 financial year for the working parents’ entitlements for 2-year-olds and under, and early years pupil premium for 2-year-olds and under (to reflect 2025 summer term headcount)

9.  December 2025 

9.1  Local authority action: 

9.2  Payment: 

  • DfE makes ninth payment of the DSG for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (3 December) 
  • DfE pays third quarterly pupil premium payment for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (31 December) 

9.3  Information: 

10.  January 2026

10.1 Local authority action:

10.2  Payment:

  • DfE makes 10th payment of the DSG for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (5 January)

10.3  Information:

  • DfE issues update to the DSG for the 2025 to 2026 financial year for in-year recoupment 
  • DfE issues high needs place change outcomes for 2026 to 2027  and 2-week enquiry window opens

11.  February 2026

11.1  Local authority action:

  • local authorities obtain political ratification of their pre-16 funding formulae as outlined in their APT
  • local authorities issue DSG allocations to maintained schools after sign-off from DfE and by 28 February 2026
  • final deadline for submitting NNDR adjustment claims for the 2025 to 2026 financial year, for claims made after 11 September 2025 (2 February)

11.2  Payment:

  • DfE makes 11th payment of the DSG for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (4 February)

11.3  Information:

  • DfE issues s251 budget guidance on completing the budget template for 2026 to 2027  
  • DfE issues updated allocations of the NICs grant for 2025 to 2026, covering the finalised allocations for new and growing mainstream schools

12.  March 2026 

12.1  Local authority action:

  • s251 budget returns collection for 2026 to 2027 opens

12.2  Payment:

  • DfE makes 12th payment of the DSG for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (4 March)
  • DfE makes 13th payment (adjustments) of the DSG for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (23 March)
  • DfE pays fourth quarterly pupil premium payment for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (31 March)
  • DfE makes NNDR adjustment payment for the 2025 to 2026 financial year, for claims made after 11 September 2024 (31 March)
  • DfE makes adjustment payment for 2025 to 2026 CSBG for special and AP schools grant to local authorities
  • DfE makes second payment for NICs grant for mainstream schools with SURPs, and new and growing mainstream schools.
  • DfE makes safety valve payments (31 March) 
  • DfE makes adjusted payments for risk protection for the 2025 to 2026 financial year (24 March)

12.3  Information:

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