Correspondence

ESFA Update local authorities: 26 March 2025

Published 26 March 2025

Applies to England

Information: Transfer of Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) functions to the Department for Education (DfE)

ESFA will close on Monday 31 March 2025.

A letter from David Withey, Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of ESFA, to accounting officers has more information.

ESFA Update will be called DfE Update and will still be sent on a Wednesday.

For help with DfE enquiries, complaints and general questions visit the customer help portal.

Information: Pupil premium conditions of grant and technical note for the 2025 to 2026 financial year

We have now published the pupil premium conditions of grant and technical note  for financial year 2025 to 2026. 

Unlike in previous years, when there were separate conditions of grant for local authority-maintained schools, academies and free schools and non-maintained special schools, this year there is one conditions of grant document to cover all establishment types.

We will publish indicative allocations for 2025 to 2026 shortly.

Updated allocations will be published in June 2025, September 2025, December 2025 and March 2026. 

Information: Updated adult skills fund – funding rates and formula guidance 2024 to 2025

We have updated our adult skills fund – funding rates and formula 2024 to 2025 guidance on claiming learning support for learning aims planned to be delivered in less than one month.

If you have any questions after reading our guidance, you can contact us via the customer help portal.

Information: 16 to 19 funding rates and formula 2025 to 2026

We have published the funding rates and formula guidance for 2025 to 2026.

We have updated the funding rates and made some minor updates and additions. You can view the details of all changes in the ‘What’s new?’ section of the guidance.

Information: Updated dedicated schools grant (DSG) management plan template and accompanying guidance for 2025 to 2026

We have published version 10 of the DSG management plan template and supporting guidance for 2025 to 2026.

You can now view and download the new version of the template directly from GOV.UK, without the need to access Document exchange.

In version 10, we have removed section 251 data for 2020 to 2021, and pre-populated for 2023 to 2024 financial year. We have removed SEN2 data for 2021 to align pupil number data with financial data.

We encourage you to download the new template – it helps local authorities meet the requirements of the DSG – conditions of grant. The template also enables local authorities to forecast and monitor their DSG spending and numbers of education, health and care plans and form evidence-based plans for the provision of children and young people with special education needs and disabilities.

If you have any questions about the template or guidance, you can contact us via the customer help portal.

Information: The national non-domestic rates (NNDR) operational guidance for billing authorities updated for 2025 to 2026

We have published the updated operational guidance for billing authorities on the central NNDR payment process for 2025 to 2026.

This guidance provides details for local authorities who are also billing authorities on how to claim for NNDR and to help you access and complete the NNDR claim form.

To note, the NNDR claim form for 2025 to 2026 will open on Tuesday 1 April 2025.

If you have any questions about the NNDR process, you can contact us via the customer help portal.

Webinar: Risk protection arrangement members only – stress workshop

Thursday 3 April 2025, 10:00am to midday. Register Online.