ESFA Update local authorities: 4 December 2024
Published 4 December 2024
Applies to England
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Information: National funding formula for 2025 to 2026
On the 28 November, the Minister of State for School Standards made a written statement setting out the schools, high needs, and central school services national funding formulae (NFF) for 2025 to 2026.
Overall, core school funding is increasing by £2.3 billion in 2025 to 2026, meaning that this funding will total almost £63.9 billion. This includes funding through the schools NFF, high needs funding, central school services block of the dedicated schools grant, and pupil premium.
You can view the provisional 2025 to 2026 NFF allocation tables and technical notes along with the policy document detailing the changes.
Local funding arrangements in 2025 to 2026 are outlined in the schools operational guide and the high needs funding operational guide.
Information: Universal infant free school meals and further education free meals per meal rate increase for the academic year 2024 to 2025
We can confirm an increase to the per-meal rate for universal infant free school meals (UIFSM). The rate will be increased from £2.53 to £2.58 for 2024 to 2025, backdated to the start of the academic year.
You will receive this increase alongside the final allocation of UIFSM for 2024 to 2025 in June 2025.
For those local authorities with 16 to 19 provision, we can also confirm an increase to the per-meal rate for further education free meals. The rate will be increased from £2.53 to £2.58 for 2024 to 2025, backdated to the start of the academic year.
You will receive an additional further education free meals payment in February to increase the amount of funding you received at the start of the academic year. You will receive your final one-third payment for the academic year in April as usual.