Guidance

Section 251: 2024 to 2025

Information for local authorities, schools and the general public about local authority education funding and expenditure plans for 2024 to 2025

From:
Education and Skills Funding Agency
Published
15 March 2024
Last updated
11 April 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Section 251 budget guidance

HTML

Administrative direction

PDF, 115 KB, 2 pages

Section 251 example tables for 2024 to 2025

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 174 KB

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COLLECT Guidance for Section 251 Budget

HTML

XML Generator

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 417 KB

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Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email ESFA.GOVUK-ENQUIRIES@education.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Introduction 

Section 251 is part of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009. 

Local authorities submit statements of planned and actual expenditure on education and children’s social care. 

The Department for Education uses the data for publishing statistics, constructing benchmarking tables, answering parliamentary questions and responding to other data requests. 

Comparing information is important for schools forums and others in discussions about budget levels and use of funds. 

Section 251 budget guidance 

The administrative direction is a formal request for the collection of section 251 data. It’s prepared on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education. 

Read the section 251 budget guidance to find out how local authorities should complete their budget statements. 

View the example tables to see what data local authorities will need to provide. 

Published 15 March 2024
Last updated 11 April 2024 + show all updates

  1. We have published the COLLECT guidance for section 251 budget for 2024 to 2025.

  2. First published.