Guidance

Pre-16 schools funding: local authority guidance for 2026 to 2027

Local authority guidance for implementing the funding system for the 2026 to 2027 financial year.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

Schools national funding formula (NFF) summary policy document for 2026 to 2027

Following the 2025 Spending Review, we plan to publish the national funding formula (NFF) allocations for schools, central schools services, and high needs for 2026 to 2027 in autumn 2025. These allocations will be accompanied by supporting documents including operational guidance for local authorities, and technical notes. 

In advance of these publications, we have published a NFF policy document to support the sector with their planning. This focuses on the schools NFF and confirms the factors that will be used in the formula for 2026 to 2027. It also confirms the key requirements on local authority formulae for 2026 to 2027, and a timeline of key next steps. 

The NFF summary policy document does not confirm any decisions on funding levels overall for the schools NFF, nor the uplifts to particular factor values within the formula. These will be confirmed as part of the publication of the NFF allocations for 2026 to 2027.

Updates to this page

Published 30 June 2025

Sign up for emails or print this page