Correspondence

DfE Update academies: 23 April 2025

Published 23 April 2025

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfe-update-23-april-2025/dfe-update-academies-23-april-2025

1. Information: Universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) and further education free meals funding rate for 2025 to 2026

We can confirm that the Department for Education (DfE) has increased the meal rate for both universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) and further education free meals from £2.58 to £2.61 for the academic year 2025 to 2026.

2. Information: Allocations for the first payment of the breakfast club early adopters grant for the 2024 to 2025 academic year

The allocations for the first payment of the breakfast club early adopters grant for the 2024 to 2025 academic year have now been published.

Allocations will be paid at the end of April 2025 for local authorities, and at the beginning of May 2025 for academies.

The second payment for the summer term will be made in arrears based on uptake of schools’ breakfast clubs.

Early adopter schools will receive further instructions on how to submit uptake data ahead of the reporting week (week commencing 9 June 2025).

3. Information: Grant allocations for academies for April to August 2025

We have published the final allocations for academies for the following grants:

As academies funding follows an academic year rather than a financial year, these final payments will be made to academies to cover April to August 2025.

Maintained schools are already receiving equivalent funding in their budget shares from their local authority. Payments for all 3 grants will be made on Friday 9 May 2025. 

From the 2025 to 2026 funding year onwards, TPAG, CSBG and TPECG funding will be rolled into academies general annual grant (GAG) allocations.

4. Information: Budget forecast return (BFR) guidance and workbook update 2025

We have updated the budget forecast return (BFR) guidance on academies budget forecast guidance for completing the online form.

We have also added this year’s Excel workbook on academies budget forecast return to help your trust prepare for the BFR.

When the BFR goes live, it will be accessed through DfE Sign-in (DSI). You will need a DSI account to access the form. Once registered you will need to sign-in and select the BFR service from the list on your services page. If you are a new user, you will need to register for a DSI account.

5. Information: Post-16 National Insurance contributions grant

We have published further guidance on the post-16 National Insurance contributions grant.

6. Information: T Level uplift for 2025 to 2026

We have updated T Level guidance with details of a one-year 5% uplift for T Level funding bands for academic year 2025 to 2026.

This is in recognition that although now more established, T Levels continue to be more expensive on average in the early years of delivery.

We aim to revise 16 to 19 funding allocation statements in June 2025 to incorporate the 5% T Level uplift.

We will confirm this in a DfE Update article in May 2025.

7. Information: Just launched – the new multi-academy trust (MAT) view on the ‘Plan technology for your school’ service

You asked, we listened. The new multi-academy trust view on plan technology for your school is live. You can now view bespoke technology recommendations for all schools within your trust. 

‘Plan technology for your school’ is a free service and available to all schools. 

It helps you to: 

With input from school leaders and technology experts, we are continually developing new features to support both schools and multi-academy trusts, so do check regularly for updates.

8. Feedback: Narrowing the digital divide in schools and colleges – contribute to the public consultation

We want to hear from academy trusts about technology.

Share your views on narrowing the digital divide in schools and colleges (by 11:59pm on Friday 23 May 2025).

This public consultation aims to bring together the sector’s expertise to tackle this issue and break down the barriers to opportunity. It includes a proposal for the future of the digital and technology standards.

We would value your views on your schools’ readiness to meet the standards and your trust’s strategic role in supporting schools to have safe and reliable technology in place.

We want to work with you to ensure that all pupils have access to the opportunities technology can offer.

9. Webinar: Q&A drop-in sessions – academies chart of accounts and automation

Thursday 24 April 2025, 2pm to 2:30pm. Register online.

10. Webinar: Introduction to the academies chart of accounts and automation 

Wednesday 30 April 2025, 2pm to 3pm. Register online.

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