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 2024 to 2025
The 2024 to 2025 exceptional learning support cost form is for providers and employers. It must be used to submit estimated and final costs for the 2024 to 2025 funding year for each learner whose learning support costs exceed £19,000.
We will review learners who require support costs of more than £19,000 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 skills fund (ASF) funding rules 2024 to 2025, apprenticeship funding rules for main providers, and advanced learner loans funding rules: 2024 to 2025.
Before claiming exceptional learning support, you must claim £150 a month learning support through the individualised learner record (ILR). Any difference between the learning support funding received via the ILR and up to £19,000 should be claimed through the earnings adjustment statement (EAS) process.
Please note that EAS is only open during the funding year and more information about the process can be found via earnings adjustment statement (EAS). Anything above £19,000 is then claimed through the exceptional learning support process which is set out below.
You must also:
- 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 29 October 2025. For full instructions, please refer to section 1 of the exceptional learning support cost form. The final ILR return for 2024 to 2025 will be on 23 October 2025
- speak to your organisation’s Super User in the first instance if you do not have access to DfE Sign-in. Alternatively, contact us via the customer help portal
- get further approval by ESFA for final claims 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 the devolved adult skills fund (ASF) provision, as referenced in the ASF funding rules 2024 to 2025
Exceptional learning support (ELS) for 2023 to 2024
The 2023 to 2024 ELS cost form is for providers and employers. You must use the form 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.
Before claiming exceptional learning support, you must claim £150 a month learning support through the ILR. Any difference between the learning support funding received via the ILR and up to £19,000 should be claimed through the EAS process.
Please note that EAS is only open during the funding year and more information about the process can be found via earnings adjustment statement (EAS). Anything above £19,000 is then claimed through the exceptional learning support process which is set out below.
You must also:
- submit exceptional learning support claims at the beginning of the learner’s programme using the ELS cost 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 cost 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 ELS 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. Alternatively, contact us through our customer help portal
Final claims will require further approval by ESFA if they are higher than the approved estimated cost.
Please contact your MCA or GLA for support funding for learners funded through devolved AEB arrangements, as referenced in the AEB funding rules 2023 to 2024.
Updates to this page
Last updated 21 August 2024 + show all updates
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We have updated the page to include information and the exceptional learning support cost form for 2024 to 2025. We have replaced the estimated 2023 to 2024 cost form with the final 2023 to 2024 form. We have removed the final 2022 to 2023 cost form, however you can find this in our national archives.
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We have published the ELS guidance and cost form for academic year 2023 to 2024.
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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
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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.
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We have changed the way you submit your ELS claim form please see the details section.
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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.
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We have published the final cost form for 2018 to 2019 and published information on the exceptional learning support process for 2019 to 2020.
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Added exceptional learning support cost form for 2018 to 2019
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Added the exceptional learning support - cost form: 2017 to 2018.
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New version of ELS cost form 2016 to 2017 uploaded on 14 October 2016.
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Published the 2016 to 2017 exceptional learning support cost form.
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Exceptional learning support form for 2015 to 2016 now published.
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First published.