Advanced Learner Loan bulletin - February 2026
Last updated: 24 Feb 2026
Changes to the performance management process
The Department for Education (DfE) has published changes to the performance management process. These changes will come into effect for academic year 2026/27.
The DfE will introduce a single performance management point in January 2027. During this review, they'll analyse growth and reductions. They'll focus on provider performance rather than bidding or business case submissions.
The DfE will publish further details in the ALL funding and performance rules in late Spring 2026.
January performance management review point
The DfE could not offer any loan facility growth to providers that were in scope or that had submitted an exception case form. As per the funding and performance management rules, growth is subject to affordability and is not guaranteed.
You can raise any queries with your provider facing manager on the Customer Help Portal on GOV.UK. The DfE is not offering any exceptions or appeals to this decision.
If the DfE has notified you of a reduction to your loan facility, you'll find updated contract values on the Learning Provider Portal on 11 March.
Withdrawals and zero fee submissions
Once a learner attends the initial two weeks of their course, we class them as post liability. If you've confirmed their attendance, and the learner later withdraws, the loan will count as one of their loan entitlements. Learners have four loan entitlements, unless they're on an A Level or Access to Higher Education (HE) course.
If you decide to reduce or remove the loan liability for a withdrawing learner, we'll still count the loan. This is because it's the effective date of withdrawal rather than the liability that determines previous study.
Access to HE learners will not be able to apply for repeat funding if they attend past the initial two weeks and you confirm attendance. This is unless they have evidence of compelling personal reasons.
Partners Support Desk
Our Partners Support Desk is here to help you with any day to day operational questions about individual learners, application processing, payments and system issues.
You can contact the support desk on 0300 100 0643 or by emailing lpservices@slc.co.uk.