Section 251 documents
Documents to help local authorities comply with section 251 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009.
This page contains links to information to help local authorities prepare and submit annual budget and outturn statements about their planned and actual spending to the Secretary of State.
The statements cover spending for education and children’s social care functions as required under section 251.
Section 251 replaces section 52 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 in England. Section 52 still applies in Wales.
The statements are the primary means of informing schools and the public about local authority funding and spending plans. They provide detailed information in a form that allows benchmarking by schools forums and authorities.
Section 251 queries
If you have questions or need further information about section 251, please contact us via our Customer Help Portal.
Section 251: 2024 to 2025
This guidance contains information for local authorities, schools and the general public about local authority education funding and expenditure plans for 2024 to 2025.
Section 251: 2023 to 2024
This guidance contains information for local authorities, schools and the general public about local authority education funding and expenditure plans for 2023 to 2024.
Updates to this page
Last updated 19 March 2024 + show all updates
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We have added the link to the section 251: 2024 to 2025 guidance.
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We've added the link to the section 251: 2023 to 2024 guidance.
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Added the section 251: 2022 to 2023 page.
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We've added the link to the section 251: 2021 to 2022 GOV.UK page.
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We have added the section 251 guidance page for 2020 to 2021.
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We've added a link to the section 251: 2019 to 2020 guidance.
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We've added the section 251 2018 to 2019 documents to the collection.
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Updated with links to section 251: 2017 to 2018 guidance page.
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Update to add 2016 to 2017 Budget guidance and tables.
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Added 'Section 251 outturn: 2014 to 2015 data'.
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Updated to add 2013 to 2014 outturn data.
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Updated to add budget workbooks for 2014 to 2015.
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Updated to include the section 251 administrative direction and with the 2013 to 2014 outturn guide for local authorities.
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First published.