Pre-16 funding

Get to grips with the funding you'll receive for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), including the new entitlements for children aged between 9 months and 2 years. Understand the difference between universal and additional entitlements when it comes to the early years national funding formula (EYNFF).

Be clear how free school meals (FSM) are funded in mainstream and special schools, and how you'll receive additional funding in 2026/27 to help you cover the cost of expanded FSM eligibility.

Understand how provision for pupils with special educational needs (SEN) is funded in your school, including top-up funding.

Find out how your general annual grant (GAG) funding is calculated, and what government funding you're entitled to on top of your GAG.

Understand how pupil referral units (PRUs), alternative provision (AP) academies and AP free schools are funded from the 'high needs block'.

Get to grips with how maintained mainstream schools are funded. Find out about the national funding formula (NFF), as well as the other streams of funding that feed into your school's budget.

Learn how special schools receive their funding, including how place funding and top-up funding are allocated.

Understand which factors are included in the national funding formula (NFF), and what the current transitional state of the NFF means for your school.

Data you submit in census returns is used to determine your school's funding. Read on to see which data is collected on each return. Also, learn how to address errors in census returns.