Exceptional learning support - cost form
Use these forms to submit estimated costs and final claims for exceptional learning support.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
Exceptional learning support (ELS) for 2023 to 2024
The 2023 to 2024 exceptional learning support cost form is for providers and employers. It must be used to submit estimated and final costs for the 2023 to 2024 funding year for each learner whose learning support costs exceed £19,000.
Learners who require support costs of more than £19,000 will be reviewed on an individual basis.
This includes:
- learners aged 19 and over with an identified learning difficulty and/or disability (LDD) without an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- all age apprentices that have an identified LDD and are with or without an EHC plan
- advanced loans-funded learners with an identified LDD without an EHC plan as part of the advanced learner loans bursary fund
Further information is available in the adult education budget (AEB) funding rules 2023 to 2024, apprenticeship funding rules for main providers, and advanced learner loans funding rules 2023 to 2024.
You must:
- submit exceptional learning support claims at the beginning of the learner’s programme using the ELS costs form for ESFA learners only
- gain agreement from ESFA for each learner whose support costs more than £19,000 in a funding year by submitting the completed ELS costs form via Document Exchange on DfE Sign-in, ensuring that you select ‘Exceptional Learner Support’ as the document’s purpose
- get further agreement if the learner’s support needs change significantly during their learning by submitting an updated cost form
- submit a final claim via Document Exchange on DfE Sign-in by 23 October 2024. For full instructions, please refer to Section 1 of the Exceptional Learning Support Cost form. The final ILR return for 2023 to 2024 will be on 17 October 2024.
- speak to your organisation’s Super User in the first instance if you do not have access to DfE Sign-in, please. Alternatively, contact us via the ESFA enquiry form
Final claims will require further approval by ESFA if they are higher than the approved estimated cost.
Please contact your Mayoral Combined Authority or the Greater London Authority for support funding for learners funded through devolved AEB arrangements, as referenced in the adult education budget (AEB) funding rules 2023 to 2024.
Exceptional learning support (ELS) for 2022 to 2023
The 2022 to 2023 exceptional learning support (ELS) cost form is for providers and employers. It must be used to submit estimated and final costs for the 2022 to 2023 funding year for each learner whose learning support costs exceed £19,000.
Learners who require support costs of more than £19,000 will be reviewed on an individual basis.
This includes:
- learners aged 19 and over with an identified learning difficulty and/or disability (LDD) without an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- all age apprentices that have an identified LDD and are with or without an EHC plan
- advanced loans-funded learners with an identified LDD without an EHC plan as part of the advanced learner loans bursary fund
Further information is available in the adult education budget (AEB) funding rules 2022 to 2023 and advanced learner loans funding rules 2022 to 2023.
You must:
- submit exceptional learning support claims at the beginning of the learner’s programme using the ELS costs form for ESFA learners only
- gain agreement from ESFA for each learner whose support costs more than £19,000 in a funding year by submitting the completed ELS costs form via Document Exchange on DfE Sign-in, ensuring that you select ‘Exceptional Learner Support’ as the document’s purpose
- get further agreement if the learner’s support needs change significantly during their learning by submitting an updated cost form
- submit a final claim via Document Exchange on DfE Sign-in by 26 October 2023. For full instructions, please refer to Section 1 of the Exceptional Learning Support Cost form. The final ILR return for 2022 to 2023 will be on 19 October 2023
- speak to your organisation’s Super User in the first instance if you do not have access to DfE Sign-in, please. Alternatively, contact us via the ESFA enquiry form
Final claims will require further approval by ESFA if they are higher than the approved estimated cost.
Please contact your Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) or the Greater London Authority (GLA) for support funding for learners funded through devolved AEB arrangements, as referenced in the adult education budget (AEB) funding rules 2022 to 2023.
Last updated 14 August 2023 + show all updates
-
We have published the ELS guidance and cost form for academic year 2023 to 2024.
-
The exceptional learning support cost form for 2022 to 2023 has been added, and the final 2020 to 2021 cost form removed. The estimated 2021 to 2022 cost form has been replaced with the Final 2021 to 2022 cost form
-
We've added the final cost form for 2020 to 2021 and added the estimated cost form for 2021 to 2022. We've also updated the guidance for the 2021 to 2022 funding year.
-
We have changed the way you submit your ELS claim form please see the details section.
-
We have added the final Exceptional Learning Support cost claim form for 2019 and 2020, we have also added the estimated Exceptional Learning Support cost claim form for 2020 to 2021.
-
We have published the final cost form for 2018 to 2019 and published information on the exceptional learning support process for 2019 to 2020.
-
Added exceptional learning support cost form for 2018 to 2019
-
Added the exceptional learning support - cost form: 2017 to 2018.
-
New version of ELS cost form 2016 to 2017 uploaded on 14 October 2016.
-
Published the 2016 to 2017 exceptional learning support cost form.
-
Exceptional learning support form for 2015 to 2016 now published.
-
First published.