ESFA funding rules for further education provision
The rules that apply to all further education provision funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).
Applies to England
The web pages listed below, according to funding years, set out the rules for publicly funded colleges, training organisations, local authorities and employers (FE providers) that offer education and skills training.
2019 to 2020 funding year
Adult education budget (AEB) funding rules 2019 to 2020
This draft document is for consultation and sets out the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) funded adult education budget (AEB) funding rules for the 2019 to 2020 funding year (1 August 2019 to 31 July 2020).
The rules apply to all providers of education and training who receive AEB funding from the Secretary of State for Education acting through ESFA.
Apprenticeship funding and performance management rules 2019 to 2020
These documents set out the funding rules for employers, employer-providers and training providers. The funding rules cover the period August 2019 to July 2020 and apply to all apprenticeship programmes starting on or after 1 August 2019. This includes both apprenticeship frameworks and standards.
Advanced learner loans funding rules 2019 to 2020
This draft document sets out the advanced learner loans funding rules for the 2019 to 2020 funding year (1 August 2019 to 31 July 2020).
The rules apply to all providers of education and training who hold a loans facility and loans bursary fund agreement with ESFA. This agreement allows providers to receive loans payments from the Student Loans Company (SLC) on behalf of learners and loans bursary payments from ESFA.
2018 to 2019 funding year
Adult education budget funding and performance management rules 2018 to 2019
This document sets out the adult education budget (AEB) funding rules for the 2018 to 2019 funding year (1 August 2018 to 31 July 2019).
The rules apply to all providers of education and training who receive AEB funding from the Secretary of State for Education acting through ESFA.
Apprenticeship funding and performance management rules 2018 to 2019
These documents set out the funding rules for employers, employer-providers and training providers. The funding rules cover the period August 2018 to July 2019 and apply to all apprenticeship programmes starting on or after 1 August 2018. This includes both apprenticeship frameworks and standards.
Advanced learner loans funding rules 2018 to 2019
This document sets out the advanced learner loans funding rules for the 2018 to 2019 funding year.
2017 to 2018 funding year
Adult education budget funding rules 2017 to 2018
This document sets out the rules that will apply to all adult education budget funded provision for the 2017 to 2018 funding year.
Apprenticeship funding and performance management rules 2017 to 2018
These documents set out the rules that will apply to all apprenticeship provision funded by the ESFA following the introduction of the apprenticeship levy.
Advanced learner loans funding rules 2017 to 2018
These documents set out the advanced learner loans funding rules for the 2017 to 2018 funding year (1 August 2017 to 31 July 2018).
2016 to 2017 funding year
Funding Rules 2016 to 2017
These documents set out the rules for funding, including the evidence required to support funding for 2016 to 2017. These rules will apply from 1 August 2016.
Advanced learner loans funding rules 2016 to 2017
These documents set out the advanced learner loans funding rules for the 2016 to 2017 funding year (1 August 2016 to 31 July 2017).
2015 to 2016 funding year
Funding Rules 2015 to 2016
These documents set out the rules for providers who receive funding from the ESFA to offer education and skills training for 2015 to 2016. It also includes the trailblazer apprenticeships funding rules 2015 to 2016 for all organisations in receipt of funding for the delivery of training or the end-point assessment of apprenticeship standards for the funding year 2015 to 2016.
This page also contains information about the funding and performance-management rules for the European Social Fund (ESF) 2014 to 2020 Programme. The rules apply to all providers funded by the European Social Fund through the ESFA.
2014 to 2015 funding year
Funding Rules 2014 to 2015
These funding rules apply to all publicly funded colleges, training organisations, local authorities and employers (providers) who receive funding from the ESFA for:
- adult skills budget (including apprenticeships)
- Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service (OLASS)
- European Social Fund (ESF)
- community learning
This page also contains the funding rules which apply to the trailblazer apprenticeship standards. These rules apply from 1 September 2014 to 31 July 2015 for all organisations in receipt of funding for the delivery of training or the assessment of Trailblazer apprenticeships for the funding year 2014 to 2015.
2013 to 2014 funding year
Funding Rules 2013 to 2014
These funding rules apply to all publicly funded colleges, training organisations, local authorities and employers (providers) who receive funding from the ESFA for:
- adult skills budget (including apprenticeships)
- Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service (OLASS)
- European Social Fund (ESF)
- community learning
Updates to this page
Published 28 January 2016Last updated 27 January 2017 + show all updates
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Added a link to the adult education budget funding and performance management rules 2017 to 2018.
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Added a link to the draft rules that will apply to all apprenticeship provision funded by the SFA following the introduction of the apprenticeship levy.
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Updated information for version 2 of the funding rules 2016 to 2017.
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Published 29 January 2016: Combined rules for Adult Education Budget.
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First published.