16 to 19 funding : Care to Learn (C2L) and 16 to 19 Bursary fund for defined vulnerable groups (VB) funding claims

From academic year 2025 to 2026, we've changed delivery model for this funding. There is no longer an external Student Bursary Support Service (SBSS) contractor to process applications and make payments.

There will be 3 separate claim windows for academic year 2025 to 2026 as follows:

  1. Autumn 2025 - The first funding claim window will open on 8 September 2025 and close on 12 November 2025. This is the window in which we expect most of you to submit funding claims. We will pay you in February 2026 (March 2026 for academies) after we have completed all checks, validations and quality assurance processes.

  2. Winter 2025 - The second funding claim window will open on 5 January 2026 and close on 11 February 2026. You will be able to submit any new funding claims in this period but will not be able to adjust any claims you have already submitted. We will pay you in April 2026 (May 2026 for academies) after we have completed all checks and quality assurance processes.

  3. End of year reconciliation (EoYR) for academic year 2025 to 2026 - The third and final window will open on 18 May 2026 and close on 1 July 2026. All institutions submitting claims for C2L must submit data for end of year reconciliation. You may also submit any late new funding claims for both schemes if you need to. We will action any recovery of funds and make any final additional payments in September 2026 (October 2026 for academies).

Complete the following digital forms, as appropriate, to claim for 16 to 19 funding:

  • Care to Learn (C2L)

  • 16 to 19 Bursary for defined vulnerable groups (VB)

Consult as necessary the C2L conditions of grant (opens in a new tab) and the VB guidance (opens in a new tab).

Also refer to the guidance on submitting digital claim forms (opens in a new tab) for assistance.

The deadline for both claim form submissions for the first Autumn 2025 window is 5pm on Wednesday, 12 November 2025.

DfE Sign-in

You need to have an account with the DfE Sign-in service to access the form. If you have not used DfE Sign-in before you will need to create an account (opens in new tab) and link this to your organisational setting.

If you have questions

You can contact us at our Customer Help Portal (opens in new tab)