Guidance

Payments and allocations for post-16 settings for academic year 2026 to 2027

Updated 16 September 2026

Applies to England

Summary

The Department for Education (DfE) pays post-16 settings under the terms of 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 and Department for Work and Pensions 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 2026 to 2027.

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

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

14 to 16-year-olds in further education

This funding applies to learners aged 14 to 16 in agreed further education colleges.

Allocation dates

Allocation statements are usually uploaded to ‘Document exchange’ by the end of February.

Payment dates

Payments are made on the 18th calendar day of the month.

Payments are made from March to April 2027.

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

16 to 19 bursary fund

There are 2 elements to the bursary fund:

• discretionary bursary
• defined vulnerable group bursary

This funding applies to learners aged 16 to 19 in:

• further education colleges
• independent training providers
• non-maintained special schools
• school and academy sixth forms
• sixth-form colleges
• local authorities
• special academies
• special free schools
• 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 by the end of March.

We issued academic year 2026 to 2027 allocations in March and April 2026.

Defined vulnerable group bursary

Providers claim funding based on eligible students and the funding they require in academic year 2026 to 2027.

There are 3 claims windows:

• September 2026
• January 2027
• May 2027

Payment dates

Discretionary bursary

For academies, payments are made on the first working day of the month. For all other settings, payments are made on the 18th calendar day of the month.

Payments are made in 2 parts:

• two-thirds in August 2026 (September for academies)
• one-third in April 2027 for all settings

Defined vulnerable group bursary

For academies, payments are made on the 6th working day of the month. For all other settings, payments are made on the last working day of the month.

Payments are made in:

• February 2027 (March for academies)
• April 2027 (May for academies)
• September 2027 (October for academies)

Payments are made after claims have been submitted and agreed.

Read the 16 to 19 bursary fund to understand all the schemes and payment or allocation process.

16 to 19 core funding allocations

This funding is available to learners aged 16 to 19 in:

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

Allocation dates

Allocation statements are usually uploaded to ‘Document exchange’ by the end of March.

We issued academic year 2026 to 2027 allocations in March and April 2026.

Payment dates

For academies, payments are made on the first working day of the month. For all other settings, payments are made on the 18th calendar day of the month.

Payments are made monthly in equal instalments.

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

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

This funding applies to learners aged 16 to 19 in:

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

Payment dates

For academies, the payment date is the first working day of the month. For all other settings, the payment date is the 18th calendar day of the month.

Payments are made by the end of the academic year.

Read the 16 to 19 in-year growth guidance to understand our calculations.

16 to 19 residential bursary fund and residential support scheme

This funding applies to learners aged 16 to 19 in:

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

Allocation dates

Allocations are shown on the 16 to 19 core funding allocation statement, usually uploaded to ‘Document exchange’ in batches by the end of March.

We issued academic year 2026 to 2027 allocations in March and April 2026.

Payment dates

For academies, the payment date is the first working day of the month. For all other settings, the payment date is the 18th calendar day of the month.

Payments are made in 2 parts: - two-thirds in August 2026 (September for academies) - one-third in April 2027

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

Adult skills fund

This funding applies to learners aged 19 and over in:

• further education colleges
• local authorities
• some school and academy sixth forms
• independent training providers

Allocation dates

Allocations are usually uploaded to ‘Manage your education and skills funding’ by the end of March.

We issued academic year 2026 to 2027 allocations in April and funding agreements in July.

Payment dates

For procured adult skills funding (ASF), payments are made on the 14th working day of the month.

Procured ASF providers are paid monthly in arrears using actual delivery from individualised learner record (ILR) submissions.

For grant-funded providers, payments are made on the 18th calendar day of the month.

Grant-funded providers are paid in equal monthly instalments before being reconciled at the end of the year against actual delivery.

Read adult education and skills funding allocation technical guidance: 2026 to 2027 to understand our allocation calculations

Read the adult skills fund: funding rates and formula to understand how we calculate actual delivery

Advanced learner loans facilities

This funding applies to learners aged 19 and over in:

• further education colleges
• local authorities
• some school and academy sixth forms
• independent training providers

Allocation dates

Allocations are usually uploaded to ‘Manage your education and skills funding’ by the end of March.

We issued academic year 2026 to 2027 allocations and funding agreements in April.

Payment dates

Providers are paid monthly across the year by the Student Loans Company.

Read the learning provider services website for information on the payments and drawdown calendar for 2026 to 2027.

Read the adult education and skills funding allocation technical guidance: 2026 to 2027 to understand our allocation calculations.

Advanced learner loans bursary

This funding applies to learners aged 19 and over in:

• further education colleges
• local authorities
• some school and academy sixth forms
• independent training providers

Allocation dates

Allocations are usually uploaded to ‘Manage your education and skills funding’ by the end of March.

We issued academic year 2026 to 2027 allocations and funding agreements in April.

Payment dates

For contract for services providers, independent training providers: - payment date is the 14th working day of the month - providers are paid monthly in arrears using actual delivery from ILR submissions

For grant-funded providers, the payment date is the 18th calendar day of the month, paid:

• 50% in August 2026
• 25% in January 2027
• 25% in April 2027

We reconcile grant-funded providers at the end of the year against actual delivery. Read the adult education and skills funding allocation technical guidance: 2026 to 2027 to understand our allocation calculations.

Apprenticeships

We have not included apprenticeships through employers on the apprenticeships service because they are not funded through allocations. Their payment dates are the same as those for the ‘Apprenticeships non-levy (procured)’.

For related guidance you can read:

• the section on payments on apprenticeship service and employer accounts in the apprenticeship technical funding guide
• apprenticeship funding policy
• using the apprenticeship service as an employer and as a training provider

Apprenticeships non-levy (procured)

This funding applies to post-16 learners in:

• further education colleges
• independent training providers

Allocation dates

Allocations are usually uploaded to ‘Manage your education and skills funding’ by the end of February.

Payment dates

Payments are made on the 14th working day of the month. Providers are paid monthly in arrears using actual delivery from ILR submissions.

Read the adult education and skills funding allocation technical guidance: 2026 to 2027 to understand our allocation calculations.

Read the apprenticeship technical funding guide to understand how we calculate actual delivery.

Care to Learn

This funding applies to learners who are under 20 on the start date of their course in:

• 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
• special post-16 institutions

Allocation dates

Providers claim funding based on eligible students and the funding they require for academic year 2026 to 2027.

There are 3 claims windows:

• September 2026
• January 2027
• May 2027

Payment dates

For academies, payments are made on the 6th working day of the month. For all other settings, payments are made on the last working day of the month.

Payments are made after we approve a submitted claim.

Payments are made in:

• February 2027 (March for academies)
• April 2027 (May for academies)
• September 2027 (October for academies)

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

Free meals in further education funding

This funding applies to learners aged 16 to 19 in:

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

Allocation dates

We show your allocation on the 16 to 19 core funding allocation statement, usually uploaded to ‘Document exchange’ by the end of March.

We issued academic year 2026 to 2027 allocations in March and April 2026.

Payment dates

Academic year 2026 to 2027 will be the first year in which school and academy sixth forms are eligible to receive free meals in further education funding. These institutions will receive initial funding allocations via an in-year payments process in spring 2027.

For other settings, we pay in 2 parts:

• approximately two-thirds in August (September for academies)
• one-third in April for all settings

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

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

This funding applies to pre-16 and 16 to 19 settings.

This list shows 16 to 19 settings only.

Academies, including:

• alternative provision
• city technology colleges
• mainstream academies
• free schools
• studio schools
• university technical colleges

Local authorities including:

• mainstream schools
• pupil referral units
• special schools

Other settings:

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

Allocation dates

We publish allocations at the end of November 2026.

We base allocations and 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:

Payments are made in arrears in November 2026 (December for academies) for academic year 2025 to 2026.

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

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

This funding applies to pre-16 and 16 to 19 settings.

This list shows 16 to 19 settings only.

Academies, including:

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

Local authorities, including:

• mainstream schools
• pupil referral units
• special schools

Other settings:

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

Allocation dates

We publish allocations at the end of November 2026.

We base allocations and payments on data submitted through ‘Manage training for early career teachers’.

Payment dates

Eligible settings receive payments in arrears after the end of each academic year.

As a transitional arrangement, some eligible settings may receive 2 payments in November and December 2026:

• a final payment for mentors on the legacy mentor backfill grant
• a payment for mentors eligible for the new ECTPM grant

From November 2027 onwards, settings will usually receive a single annual ECTPM payment.

Payments are made in arrears:

• November 2026 (December for academies)
• November 2027 (December for academies)

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

Inclusive mainstream fund for 16 to 19 providers

This funding is for schools, colleges and other institutions delivering mainstream 16 to 19 provision in financial year 2026 to 2027.

Allocation dates

We confirmed allocations in June 2026.

Payment dates

We will pay the grant for the period April 2026 to March 2027:

There will be one payment to cover the period in June 2026 (July 2026 for academies).

We will pay funding: 

• to local authorities for maintained schools, who will be required to pay it to individual schools at the allocated amount 
• directly to all other settings at the allocated amount

Read the inclusive mainstream fund for 16 to 19 providers methodology and conditions of grant to understand the policy and allocation calculation.

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

This funding applies to 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
• independent schools

Allocation date

• claims based on academic year 2025 to 2026

Payment date

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 are made in arrears for claims relating to academic year 2025 to 2026: - September 2026 (October 2026 for academies) - December 2026 (January 2027 for academies)

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

Post-16 National Insurance contributions

This funding applies to post-16 learners in:

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

Allocation dates

We published institution level allocations in May 2026 for financial year 2026 to 2027.

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 2026 (October for academies).

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

Taking Teaching Further

This funding applies to post-16 eligible further education providers.

Eligible 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
• special post-16 institutions

Allocation date

We confirm: - initial allocations in July before the start of the academic year - final allocations in January of the academic year, so January 2027

Payment date

Payments are made on the 18th calendar day of the month.

There is one payment in March 2027 for year 1 (2026 to 2027) and year 2 (2025 to 2026)

Read the Taking Teaching Further guidance to understand the programme.

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

This funding applies to learners aged 16 to 19 in:

• maintained schools
• academy sixth forms

Allocation dates

Allocations were made:

• May 2026 (April to August)
• October 2026 (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 2026 (July for academies)
• October 2026 (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.

Teachers’ pension scheme employer contributions grant for further education providers

This funding applies to post-16 learners in:

• further education colleges
• sixth-form colleges
• designated institutions
• special post-16 institutions

Setting must:

• receive 16 to 19 and/or adult skills funding
• have 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’ by the end of March.

We issued academic year 2026 to 2027 allocations in March and April 2026.

Payment dates

Payments are made on the 18th calendar day of the month:

• September 2026
• April 2027

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

T Levels

This funding applies to learners aged 16 to 19 in:

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

Allocation dates

Allocations are usually uploaded to ‘Document exchange’ by the end of March.

We issued academic year 2026 to 2027 allocations in March and April 2026.

Payment dates

For academies, the payment date is the first working day of the month. For all other settings, the payment date is the 18th calendar day of the month

Payments are made monthly.

Read the T Level funding guidance to understand our calculations.

Contact us

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