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Guidance

DfE subcontracting standard

Subcontracting assurance arrangements for all Department for Education (DfE) funded post-16 providers.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Education
Published:
28 July 2021
Last updated:
12 March 2026
Show all updates

  1. Added 'Subcontracting standard self-assessment template'.

  2. Added 'Subcontracting standard oversight arrangements for post-16 providers' and updated 'Assurance reviews of subcontracting standards for post-16 providers: framework and guide for reporting accountants'. Removed the 'DfE subcontracting' PDF as this is a duplication of the information on the 'DfE subcontracting' HTML document.

  3. Added the date of 31 July 2025 for subcontracting standard audit reports to be submitted using Document Exchange.

  4. Added assurance reviews of the subcontracting standard for post-16 providers document.

  5. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

DfE subcontracting standard

HTML

Assurance reviews of subcontracting standards for post-16 providers: framework and guide for reporting accountants

PDF, 527 KB, 49 pages

Subcontracting standard oversight arrangements for post-16 providers

PDF, 394 KB, 21 pages

Subcontracting standard self-assessment template

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 53.3 KB

Details

This document and the supporting auditors guidance set out the requirements for all providers who subcontract £100,000 or more of their delivery across all DfE funding streams.

The following must be returned to DfE using document exchange by 31 August of the relevant funding year:

  • independent reporting accountant’s report
  • subcontracting standard self-assessment template completed by the reporting accountant
  • assurance declaration completed by the provider

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