Pre-16 schools funding: local authority guidance for 2026 to 2027

Schools national funding formulaoperational (NFF)guide: summary2026 policyto document2027

Local authorities and schools forums should use this guidance to plan the local implementation of the mainstream schools funding system for the 2026 to 2027 financial year.

The notional SEN budget: operational guidance

FollowingThis theguidance 2025has Spendingbeen Review,written weto planhelp tolocal publishauthorities comply with the nationalnotional fundingspecial formulaeducational needs (NFFSEN) allocations forbudget schools,requirement. centralLocal authorities are required to identify a notional amount to guide mainstream schools services,in andtheir highspending needsto meet the costs of additional support for the school’s pupils with SEN.

Growth and falling rolls fund guidance: 2026 to 2027

Local inauthorities autumnshould 2025.use Thesethis allocationsguidance willwhen beoperating accompaniedfunds byfor supporting documentsgrowth includingor falling rolls – providing some more detail above what is in the schools revenue funding operational guide: 2026 to 2027. The guidance includes examples of compliant criteria.

Private finance initiative (PFI) factor in the schools national funding formula guidance

Guidance for mainstream schools with pupils aged 5 to 16, and local authorities, to understand the operation of the PFI factor in the schools NFF, and technicalthe notes. equivalent local authority funding formulae.

Private finance initiative (PFI) affordability model template

InLocal advanceauthorities can use this template to model the amount of thesefunding publications,allocated wethrough havethe PFI factor publishedin athe schools NFF.

Allowable policyfactor documentvalue ranges: 2026 to support2027

We have published a spreadsheet which shows the sectorallowable withfactor value ranges in schools funding formulae for each local authority in 2026 to 2027.

Guidance for completing the disapplications digital form

Local authorities should use the disapplication digital form to submit their planning.disapplication requests. This focusesguidance provides further information on thehow schoolsto NFFcomplete and confirmssubmit the factorsform.

All thatsafety willvalve local authorities should contact SafetyValve.Programme@education.gov.uk to discuss the appropriate route for submitting requests before proceeding.

Local authorities should refer to the ‘Transfer between blocks’ section of the ‘Schools funding operational guide: 2026 to 2027’ for further information on block transfer requests, including details of the supporting evidence we would expect to be usedsubmitted inas part of the request.

Further information

You can read the national funding formula for schools policy document for further details of the NFF allocations for 2026 to 2027.

You Itcan alsoview confirmsthe provisional thenational keyfunding requirementsformula onallocation localtables for authorityschools formulaeand central school services blocks for 2026 to 2027,2027.

The and‘High needs funding 2026 to 2027: operational guide’ will be published alongside the high needs allocations at a timelinelater ofdate. keyYou nextcan steps. read the high needs funding 2025 to 2026: operational guide for information for local authorities, schools and colleges about current high needs funding arrangements.

The NFFSchool summaryand policyEarly documentYears doesFinance not(England) confirmRegulations any2025 details decisionsstatutory onguidance for local authorities funding levelsarrangements overallof fortheir themaintained schools NFF,and norearly years providers for the uplifts2025 to particular2026 factorfinancial valuesyear. withinNew regulations will be in place for the formula.the These2026 willto be2027 confirmedfinancial asyear.

Read partthe schools ofoperational guide: 2025 to 2026 for information about planning the publicationlocal implementation of the NFFmainstream allocationsschools funding system for 2026the 2025 to 2027.2026 financial year.