Guidance

Residential Support Scheme guide

Guidance for all institutions with a 16 to 18 Residential Support Scheme (RSS) allocation.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 2 April 2025
• Last updated: 23 October 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 23 October 2026

     The deadline to complete and submit your Residential Support Scheme data return form has now passed.

  2. 1 October 2026

     Added 'Residential Support Scheme data return, 2025 to 2026: guidance for completing the digital form'.

  3. 30 March 2026

     Added 'Residential Support Scheme guidance: 2026 to 2027'.

  4. 2 April 2025

     First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Residential Support Scheme: 2026 to 2027

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Residential Support Scheme guidance: 2025 to 2026

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Residential Support Scheme data return, 2025 to 2026: guidance for completing the digital form

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Details

The deadline to complete and submit your form for the 2025 to 2026 academic year has passed.

This guide is for all institutions with a 16 to 18 Residential Support Scheme (RSS) allocation.

The guide sets out the funding rules for RSS and forms part of institutions’ Department for Education (DfE) funding agreements.

Institutions must be able to show they comply with the funding rules at any audit.

Students, parents and carers should read our get funding for college accommodation guide for information about eligibility and claiming funding.