Adult Skills Fund (ASF) newly devolved area continuing learner allocations

We issue continuing learner allocations to fund learners who started learning in a previous funding year and continue into the current funding year when an area is in their first year of devolution.

This article explains how we calculate them and where to find more information.

What is a continuing learner allocation?

A continuing learner is where learning started before 1 August and continues into the following funding year.

Types of continuing learners

There are 2 types of continuing learner allocation.

Continuing learners for non-devolved areas

These are learners funded directly by DfE in non-devolved areas. You must manage these learners from within your allocation.

Continuing learners for newly devolved areas

When an area devolves/ obtains control of adult skills fund. We do not expect you to move or change learners if they started prior to the devolution date. We remove funding from within your allocation for devolution. To assist you in supporting learners in devolving areas we calculate a separate continuing learner value for eligible learners in devolved areas. We do this for 12-months only, after that you must manage it from your allocation.

This allocation supports learners who started learning before adult education functions transferred to a devolved authority and who continue their learning after devolution.

The allocation only covers continuing learners. Funding for new learners in devolved areas is the responsibility of the relevant devolved authority.

Adult skills fund: funding and performance management rules 2026 to 2027

For devolved areas, DfE continue to fund eligible learners who started learning before devolution arrangements took effect, while the devolved authority is responsible for funding new learners.

When we issue continuing learner allocations

We show an indicative value for information as part of your allocation in March. This will not be added to your funding agreement.

We calculate the actual value using R14 data and issue and add these to your funding agreements in December.

How we calculate continuing learner allocations

We calculate continuing learner allocations using nationally consistent methodologies and available ILR data.

When calculating allocations, we consider:

• Learners whose prior postcode is within an area that is newly devolved for the funding year
• learners who continue learning into the new funding year
• historic delivery data
• current funding arrangements

The detailed methodology is published in the Adult education and skills funding allocation technical guidance: 2026 to 2027.

We show continuing learner funding as a separate value on your allocation statement. However, this will form part of your overall ASF allocation, and we will not manage it separately. We will not consolidate this into your ASF allocation the following year.

What you need to do

You should:

• make sure your ILR data is accurate and submitted on time
• review your allocation statement when it is issued
• follow the ASF funding and performance management rules

Further information

Read:

• Adult education and skills funding allocation technical guidance: 2026 to 2027 for information about allocation methodologies and allocation statements.
• Adult education and skills funding allocations for updates and timelines.
• Adult skills fund: funding and performance management rules 2026 to 2027 for funding, delivery and performance management requirements.
• Adult skills fund: funding rates and formula 2026 to 2027 for information about how ASF earnings are calculated.
• Individualised learner record for information on how to record and submit learner data

Need support?

If you need help after reading the guidance, submit an enquiry via the Customer Help Portal. For ‘What is your enquiry about?’, select ‘Get help with DfE services’.