Exceptional learning support – cost form
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-11)

Use these forms to submit estimated costs and final claims for exceptional learning support.

Exceptional learning support (ELS) for 2025 to 2026

The 2025 to 2026 exceptional learning support (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfa-exceptional-learning-support-cost-form) cost form is for providers and employers. It must be used to submit estimated and final costs for funding year 2025 to 2026 for each learner whose learning support costs exceed £19,000.

Learners who require support costs of more than £19,000 will be reviewed on an individual basis. Any claims for ELS will be subject to affordability checks at final claim submission.

This includes:
- learners aged 19 and over with an identified learning difficulty and/or disability (LDD) without an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- all age apprentices that have an identified LDD and are with or without an EHC plan
- advanced loans-funded learners with an identified LDD without an EHC plan as part of the advanced learner loans bursary fund
Further information is available in the adult skills fund funding rules (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-skills-fund-funding-rules), apprenticeship funding rules (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apprenticeship-funding-rules#the-latest-rules-2022-to-2023) for main providers, and advanced learner loans funding rules (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advanced-learner-loans-funding-rules-2024-to-2025/advanced-learner-loans-funding-rules-2024-to-2025).

Before claiming ELS, you must claim £150 a month learning support through the individualised learner record (ILR). Any difference between the learning support funding received via the ILR and up to £19,000 should be claimed through the earnings adjustment statement (EAS) process.

Please note that EAS is only open during the funding year. More information about the process can be found via earnings adjustment statement (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/earnings-adjustment-statement-eas). Anything above £19,000 is claimed through the ELS process, which is set out below. Your EAS claim will be capped at your allocation for learning support if it is less than £19,000.

Do not include learner names, initials or other personal information in the file titles when uploading your cost forms. Including personal identifiers is a breach of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Uploaded files should contain only the Unique Learner Number (ULN) for identification purposes. We will not download or process files that do not follow this protocol.

You must also:
- submit ELS claims at the beginning of the learner’s programme using the ELS cost form for DfE learners only
- gain agreement from DfE for each learner whose support costs more than £19,000 in a funding year by submitting the completed ELS costs form via Document exchange (https://services.signin.education.gov.uk/), ensuring that you select ‘Exceptional Learner Support’ as the document’s purpose
- get further agreement if the learner’s support needs to change significantly during their learning by submitting an updated cost form
- submit a final claim via Document exchange (https://services.signin.education.gov.uk/) by 28 October 2026. For full instructions, please refer to section 1 of the ELS cost form. The final ILR return for 2025 to 2026 will be on 22 October 2026
- speak to your organisation’s Super User in the first instance if you do not have access to DfE Sign-in. Alternatively, contact us via the customer help portal (https://customerhelpportal.education.gov.uk/)
- final claims will require further approval by DfE if they are higher than the approved estimated cost
Please contact your Mayoral Combined Authority or the Greater London Authority for support funding for learners funded through the devolved adult skills fund provision, as referenced in the adult skills fund funding rules (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-skills-fund-funding-rules).

Exceptional learning support (ELS) for 2024 to 2025

The 2024 to 2025 exceptional learning support (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfa-exceptional-learning-support-cost-form) cost form is for providers and employers. It must be used to submit final costs for funding year 2024 to 2025 for each learner whose learning support costs exceed £19,000.

We will review learners who require support costs of more than £19,000 on an individual basis.

This includes:
- learners aged 19 and over with an identified learning difficulty and/or disability (LDD) without an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- all age apprentices that have an identified LDD and are with or without an EHC plan
- advanced loans-funded learners with an identified LDD without an EHC plan as part of the advanced learner loans bursary fund
Further information is available in the adult skills fund (ASF) funding rules 2024 to 2025 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-skills-fund-funding-rules), apprenticeship funding rules (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apprenticeship-funding-rules#the-latest-rules-2022-to-2023) for main providers, and advanced learner loans funding rules: 2024 to 2025 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advanced-learner-loans-funding-and-performance-management-rules).

Before claiming exceptional learning support, you must claim £150 a month learning support through the individualised learner record (ILR). Any difference between the learning support funding received via the ILR and up to £19,000 should be claimed through the earnings adjustment statement (EAS) process.

Please note that EAS is only open during the funding year and more information about the process can be found via earnings adjustment statement (EAS) (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/earnings-adjustment-statement-eas). Anything above £19,000 is then claimed through the exceptional learning support process which is set out below.

Do not include learner names, initials or other personal information in the file titles when uploading your cost forms. Including personal identifiers is a breach of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Uploaded files should contain only the Unique Learner Number (ULN) for identification purposes. We will not download or process files that do not follow this protocol.

You must also:
- submit exceptional learning support claims at the beginning of the learner’s programme using the ELS cost form for DfE learners only
- gain agreement from DfE for each learner whose support costs more than £19,000 in a funding year by submitting the completed ELS cost form via Document exchange on DfE Sign-in (https://services.signin.education.gov.uk/), ensuring that you select ‘exceptional learner support’ as the document’s purpose
- get further agreement if the learner’s support needs change significantly during their learning by submitting an updated cost form
- submit a final claim via Document exchange on DfE Sign-in (https://services.signin.education.gov.uk/) by 29 October 2025. For full instructions, please refer to section 1 of the exceptional learning support cost form. The final ILR return for 2024 to 2025 will be on 23 October 2025
- speak to your organisation’s Super User in the first instance if you do not have access to DfE Sign-in. Alternatively, contact us via the customer help portal (https://customerhelpportal.education.gov.uk/)
- get further approval by DfE for final claims if they are higher than the approved estimated cost
Please contact your Mayoral Combined Authority or the Greater London Authority for support funding for learners funded through the devolved adult skills fund (ASF) provision, as referenced in the ASF funding rules 2024 to 2025 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-skills-fund-funding-rules).