Morning Intelligence Update

DfE confirmed on 9 September that revised 2026/27 allocation statements are available in Document Exchange. Increases cover national and disadvantage rates, two National Insurance grant components and free meals in further education. DfE also says the further-education Teachers' Pension Scheme employer contribution grant will reduce from 1 April 2027; an October 2026 manual adjustment will correct the earlier reduction shown in September contract variations.

Affected providers need to reconcile the revised statement, October remittance and April forecast as three distinct points. Treating the September variation as the final cash profile could misstate short-term income or the 2027 position.

DfE confirmed on 9 September that Care to Learn and the defined-vulnerable-groups element of the 16–19 Bursary Fund claim forms are live. The first window closes at 5pm on Wednesday 11 November; claims after that point must wait for the second window in January 2027.

This is an access-to-support deadline, not only a finance task. A missed first window would defer the claim process for eligible young people until January.

DfE updated the specification, annexes and validation rules on 9 September. Version 1.2 changes the destination-school data item for managed moves, clarifies the kinship-care indicator, and changes attendance dates while removing references to enrolment status; it also confirms the attendance scope covers pupils on roll for at least one session during the collection period.

The revision changes the technical basis on which management-information systems prepare and check returns. Schools need their software, local guidance and internal validation to reflect the September version rather than the earlier baseline.