GovWire

We will take a download of data from Ofquals Register of Regulated Qualifications on the second to last Tuesday in the month before the funding approval cycle scheduled for the following month.

During the moratorium, we will only review the following on a termly basis:

• qualifications submitted as exemptions at level 3 or below in the offers for 16 to 19, ESFA funded adult education budget (including local flexibility and the statutory entitlements), loans and level 3 free courses for jobs
• qualifications we approve for loans from level 4 to level 6
• qualifications at level 4 to level 6 that you ask us to consider approving for 16 to 19
• qualifications approved for 14 to 16
• English and maths stepping stones qualifications requests

The table shows the deadline for each termly review, up to and including June 2025.

The deadline for updated stepping stones forms and Level 4 to 6 notification forms, level 3 free courses for jobs applications and moratorium exemption forms is 5pm on the dates stated.

Urgent funding approval

In exceptional circumstances, you may need urgent funding approval for the next academic year after our summer funding approval cycle deadline has passed.

To request urgent funding approval, email qualifications.approval@education.gov.uk. Include all relevant:

• applications
• forms
• supporting documents

Explain why the funding approval:

• is urgent
• could not take place during our termly funding approval cycles

We will consider this on a case-by-case basis. We only expect to grant approval in extremely rare circumstances.