Only some census items are used
The DfE's guidance on data items marks all data items used to calculate funding allocations as ‘[used for funding]’.
The marker is there to let you know that those data items need to be especially accurate, because errors with these items can affect how much funding you receive.
Your core funding
Funding for pupils of statutory school age and post-16 pupils is allocated based on autumn census returns.
Find out more in our article on the national funding formula.
Your pupil premium allocations
Pupil premium allocations are based on:
- Autumn census, for mainstream and special schools
- Spring census, for pupil referral units (PRUs) and alternative provision (AP) academies
Read more about which pupils are eligible for this funding in our other article.
Funding for universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) is determined using the average number of pupils recorded in the autumn and spring censuses as having taken