Guidance

Payments and allocations for post-16 settings for academic year 2025 to 2026

Published 26 January 2026

Applies to England

1. Summary

Department for Education (DfE) is responsible for paying post-16 settings in accordance with the terms set out in their contract. We issue a monthly remittance note for all payments. We send it electronically to your nominated email address.

This page shows the allocation and payment dates for settings that receive DfE funded post-16 education and skills funding.

Use this page to see what funding your setting should receive and when to expect your allocations and payments for academic year 2025 to 2026.

Go to our collection pages for more specific funding information, guidance and rules.

• 16 to 19 education and skills funding
• Adult education and skills funding

We have ordered the information by funding stream, in alphabetical order. Each funding line has information on:

• age range
• setting type the funding applies to
• usual allocation dates
• expected payment dates

Remember you can see your allocation statement or grant agreement in Document exchange or Manage your education and skills funding depending on the funding type.

We have not included information about apprenticeships with employers on the apprenticeships service. You might find these pages useful:

• apprenticeship funding system and payments
  • read the section on the apprenticeship service and employer accounts in the guidance that matches the correct apprenticeship start date
• apprenticeship funding policy
• using the apprenticeship service as an employer and as a training provider

2. 14-to-16-year-olds in further education

Age range:

• 14 to 16

Setting type:

• agreed further education colleges

Allocation dates:

• usually uploaded to Document exchange at the end of January or early February

Payment dates:

The payment date is the 14th working day of the month.

• April to July 2026

Read the 14-to-16-year-olds in further education guidance to understand our calculations.

3. 16 to 19 Bursary Fund

There are 2 elements to the Bursary Fund: discretionary and vulnerable.

Age range:

• 16 to 19

Setting type:

• further education colleges, independent training providers, non-maintained special schools, school and academy sixth forms, sixth-form colleges and special post-16 institutions

Allocation dates:

Discretionary Bursary

• we show your allocation on the 16 to 19 core funding allocation statement usually uploaded to Document exchange in batches across February and March

Vulnerable Bursary

• paid on claims from academic year 2025 to 2026
• 3 claims windows in September 2025, January and May 2026

Payment dates:

For academies, the payment date is the 6th working day of the month. For all other settings, the payment date is the last working day of the month.

Discretionary Bursary

• paid in 2 parts:
  • two-thirds in August 2025 (September for academies)
  • one-third in April 2026

Vulnerable Bursary

• paid in:
  • February 2026 (March for academies)
  • April 2026 (May for academies)
  • September 2026 (October for academies)

Read the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund to understand all the schemes.

4. 16 to 19 core funding allocations

Age range:

• 16 to 19

Setting type:

• further education colleges, independent training providers, non-maintained special schools, school and academy sixth forms, sixth-form colleges and special post-16 institutions

Allocation dates:

• usually uploaded to Document exchange in batches across February and March

Payment dates:

For academies, the payment date is the 1st working day of the month. For all other settings, the payment date is the 14th working day of the month.

• paid monthly in equal instalments

Read the 16 to 19 core funding allocations guidance to understand our calculations.

5. 16 to 19 in year growth funding added to core funding allocations

Age range:

• 16 to 19

Setting type:

• further education colleges, higher education institutions, independent learning providers, local authorities, school and academy sixth forms, sixth-form colleges and special post-16 institutions

Allocation dates:

• usually uploaded to Document exchange by the end of February

Payment dates:

For academies, the payment date is the 1st working day of the month. For all other settings, the payment date is the 14th working day of the month.

• usually paid from March in the academic year. Payments profiled across the academic year

Read the 16 to 19 in year growth funding added to core funding allocations guidance to understand our calculations.

6. 16 to 19 residential bursary fund and residential support scheme

Age range:

• 16 to 19

Setting type:

• further education colleges, independent learning providers, school and academy sixth forms and sixth-form colleges

Allocation dates:

• we show your allocation on the 16 to 19 core funding allocation statement, usually uploaded to Document exchange in batches across February and March

Payment dates:

For academies, the payment date is the 1st working day of the month. For all other settings, the payment date is the 14th working day of the month.

• paid in 2 parts:
  • two-thirds in August 2025 (September for academies)
  • one-third in April 2026

Read the residential bursary fund guide and residential support scheme guide to understand the policy.

7. Adult skills fund

Age range:

• 19+

Setting type:

• further education colleges and independent training providers

Allocation dates:

• usually uploaded to Manage your education and skills funding by the end of March. For academic year 2025 to 2026 they went in April

Payment dates:

For procured adult skills funding, the payment date is the 14th working day of the month. For others, the payment date is the 18th calendar day of the month.

• procured ASF paid monthly in arrears using actuals

• grant funding paid in equal monthly instalments

Read the adult education and skills funding allocation technical guidance: 2025 to 2026 to understand our calculations.

8. Advanced learner loans

Age range:

• 19+

Setting type:

• further education colleges and independent training providers

Allocation dates:

• usually uploaded to Manage your education and skills funding by the end of March

Payment dates:

For contract for services providers (independent training providers) the payment date is the 14th working day of the month. For all others, the payment date is the 18th calendar day of the month in August, January and April.

• paid monthly across the year by the Student Loans Company

Read the adult education and skills funding allocation technical guidance: 2025 to 2026 to understand our calculations.

9. Advanced learner loans bursary

Age range:

• 19+

Setting type:

• further education colleges and independent training providers

Allocation dates:

• usually uploaded to Manage your education and skills funding by the end of March, for academic year 2025 to 2026 they went in April

Payment dates:

For contract for services providers (independent training providers) the payment date is the 14th working day of the month. For all others, the payment date is the 18th calendar day of the month.

• paid in August, January and April

Read the adult education and skills funding allocation technical guidance: 2025 to 2026 to understand our calculations.

10. Apprenticeships carry-in (non-procured)

Age range:

• post-16

Setting type:

• further education colleges and independent training providers

Allocation dates:

• usually uploaded to Manage your education and skills funding by the end of July

Payment dates:

The payment date is the 14th working day of the month.

• paid every month in arrears based on ILR submissions

Read the adult education and skills funding allocation technical guidance: 2025 to 2026 to understand our calculations.

11. Apprenticeships non-levy (procured)

Age range:

• post-16

Setting type:

• further education colleges and independent training providers

Allocation dates:

• usually uploaded to Manage your education and skills funding by the end of February

Payment dates:

The payment date is the 14th working day of the month.

• paid every month in arrears based on ILR submissions

Read the adult education and skills funding allocation technical guidance: 2025 to 2026 to understand our calculations.

12. Care to Learn

Age range:

• pre-16 and 16 to 19

Setting type:

• local authority maintained mainstream, special and pupil referral units and hospital schools

• pre- 16 and 16 to 19 academies (all types including city technology colleges and university technical colleges)

• 16 to 19 provision in further education colleges, independent learning providers, non-maintained special schools, school and academy sixth forms, sixth-form colleges and special post-16 institutions

Allocation dates:

• paid on claims from academic year 2025 to 2026
• 3 claims windows in September 2025, January and May 2026

Payment dates:

For academies, the payment date is the 6th working day of the month. For all other settings, the payment date is the last working day of the month.

• payments in:
  • February 2026 (March for academies)
  • April 2026 (May for academies)
  • September 2026 (October for academies)

Read the Care to Learn guidance to understand the scheme and how to claim.

13. Core schools budget grant (CSBG) for special schools, special post-16 institutions and alternative provision

Age range:

• pre-16 and post-16

Setting type:

• AP academies and free schools (5 to 16 provision), independent learning providers, independent special schools, maintained special schools, special academies and free schools, independent special schools, maintained hospital schools, equivalent academies and other providers of hospital education, maintained special schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units (5 to 16 provision), special academies and free schools and special post-16 institutions

Allocation dates:

We will publish the allocations in:

• May 2025 for the continuation of 2024 to 2025 CSBG and pay and pensions grants and National Insurance increase funding
• October 2025 for 2025 award funding
• March 2026 for the above elements of funding using updated data

Payment dates:

The payment day is the last working day of the month:

• local authority pays all settings apart from non-maintained special schools which DfE pays directly

Payments:

We will pay:

• continuation of 2024 to 2025 CSBG and pay and pensions grants in May 2025
• National Insurance increase funding in May and September 2025
• 2025 award funding in October 2025
• above elements of funding using updated data in March 2026

Read the Core schools budget grant (CSBG) for special schools, special post-16 institutions and alternative provision guidance to understand the policy.

14. Grant funding for early career teacher entitlement (ECTE) year 2 time off timetable and mentor support

Age range:

• pre- 16 and 16 to 19

Setting type:

You can find the full settings and eligibility list in the link to the guidance below, these are 16 to 19 settings only:

• 16 to 19 secure academies, further education colleges, school and academy sixth forms, sixth-form colleges, non-maintained special schools with an early career’s teacher and settings that attract section 41 funding

Allocation dates:

• we do not issue funding allocations, we base payments on data submitted through Manage training for early career teachers

Payment dates:

For academies, the payment date is the 6th working day of the month. For all other settings, the payment date is the last working day of the month:

• paid in arrears in November 2025 (December for academies) for academic year 2024 to 2025

Read the Grant funding for early career teacher entitlement year 2 time off timetable and mentor support guidance to understand the policy.

15. Grant funding for early career training programme for mentors (ECTPM)

Age range:

• pre-16 and 16 to 19

Setting type:

This list shows 16 to 19 settings only:

• academies, including 16 to 19, alternative provision, city technology colleges, free schools, mainstream academies, studio schools and university technical colleges

• local authorities, including mainstream schools, pupil referral units and special schools

• further education colleges, independent special schools that receive section 41 funding, non-maintained special schools, special post-16 institutions

Allocation dates:

• eligible settings will receive a minimum of 2 academic year payments, paid in arrears after the end of each academic year

Payment dates:

• paid in arrears in November 2025 (December for academies) and November 2026 (December for academies)

Read the Grant funding for early career training programme for mentors guidance to understand the policy.

16. Free meals in further education funding

Age range:

• 16 to 19

Setting type:

• further education colleges, independent training providers, non-maintained special schools, school and academy sixth forms, sixth-form colleges and special post-16 institutions

Allocation dates:

• we show your allocation on the 16 to 19 core funding allocation statement usually uploaded to Document exchange in batches across February and March

Payment dates:

• we pay in 2 parts:
  • approximately two thirds in August
  • one third in April

Read the Free meals in further education funding guidance to understand our calculations.

17. Initial teacher training (ITT) reform funding – general mentor training

Setting type:

• placement schools that hosted an ITT trainee or intended to host an ITT trainee on a course leading to the award of qualified teacher status (except Assessment Only)
• this includes special schools, pupil referral units, early years settings, further education organisations and independent schools

Allocation date:

• claims based on academic year 2024 to 2025

Payment date:

The payment day is the last working day of the month.

• two payment dates: one in September 2025 and one in December 2025, both in arrears.

Read the ITT reform funding – general mentor training guidance to understand the policy.

18. Post-16 National Insurance contributions

Age range:

• 16 to 19

Setting type:

• further education colleges, local authorities, maintained schools and academy sixth forms, 16 to 19 schools and academies, sixth-form colleges, local authorities and designated institutions

Allocation dates:

• we published institution level allocations in May 2025 on GOV.UK for financial year 2025 to 2026

Payment dates:

For academies, the payment date is the 6th working day of the month. For all other settings, the payment date is the last working day of the month:

• one payment in September 2025 (October for academies)

Read the Post-16 National Insurance contributions guidance to understand our calculations.

19. Post-16 budget grant

Age range:

• 16 to 19

Setting type:

• further education colleges, maintained school and academy sixth forms, 16 to 19 schools and academies, sixth-form colleges, local authorities and designated institutions

Allocation dates:

• we published institution level allocations in May 2025 on GOV.UK for April to August 2025

Payment dates:

For academies, the payment date is the 6th working day of the month. For all other settings, the payment date is the last working day of the month:

• one payment in June 2025

Read the Post-16 budget grant to understand our calculations.

20. Skills bootcamps

Age range:

• 19+

Setting type:

• providers delivering skills bootcamps

Allocation dates:

• paid on actuals - we issue monthly funding reports to show the funding they have earned

Payment dates:

The payment date is the 14th working day of the month:

• paid monthly apart from the overlapping period where they receive 2 payments combined (August to October)

Read the Skills bootcamps guidance to understand your funding.

21. Taking Teaching Further

Age range:

• post-16

Setting type:

• eligible further education providers:

  • route 1; further education colleges, sixth-form colleges, land-based colleges, institutes of adult learning
  • route 2; independent training providers, employer providers, third sector training providers, local authority providers, adult and community learning providers, and special post-16 institutions

Allocation date:

• we confirm initial allocations in July before the start of the academic year

• we confirm final allocations in January of the academic year, so January 2026

Payment date:

The payment date is the last working day of the month:

• one payment in March 2026 for year 1 (2025 to 2026) and year 2 (2024 to 2025)

Read the Taking Teaching Further guidance to understand the programme

22. Teachers’ pension scheme employer contribution grant for maintained schools and academies with 16 to 19 provision

Age range:

• 16 to 19

Setting Type:

• maintained schools and academy sixth forms

Allocation dates:

• May 2025 (April to August)
• October 2025 (September to March)

Payment dates:

For academies, the payment date is the 6th working day of the month. For all other settings, the payment date is the last working day of the month:

• June 2025 (July for academies)
• October 2025 (November for academies)

Read the Teachers’ pension scheme employer contribution grant for maintained schools and academies with 16 to 19 provision guidance to understand our calculations.

23. Teachers’ pension scheme employer contributions grant for further education providers

Age range:

• post-16

Setting type:

• further education colleges, sixth-form colleges, designated institutions and special post-16 institutions if:

  • they receive 16 to 19 and/or adult skills funding and
  • data from the relevant financial year shows they paid into the teachers’ pension scheme

Allocation dates:

• we show payment amounts on the 16 to 19 core funding allocation statement usually uploaded to Document exchange in batches across February and March

Payment dates:

The payment date is the 14th working day of the month:

• September 2025
• April 2026

Read the Teachers’ pension scheme employer contributions grant for further education providers guidance to understand our calculations.

24. T Levels

Age range:

• 16 to 19

Setting type:

• further education colleges, independent training providers, non-maintained special schools, school and academy sixth forms, sixth-form colleges and special post-16 institutions

Allocation dates:

• usually uploaded to document exchange in batches across February and March

Payment dates:

For academies, the payment date is the 1st working day of the month. For all other settings, the payment date is the 14th working day of the month:

• paid monthly

Read the allocations information to understand our calculations.

25. Contact us

If you need any help with payments after reading this information, please contact our customer help centre.