1. Introduction

Learner Support funds are paid by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to the College so that they may provide financial help to students whose access to, or completion of education might be inhibited by financial concerns. They may be used for:-

1. Tuition Fees
2. Examination Fees
3. Travel
4. Books and Equipment – on production of receipts
5. Registration Fees
6. Childcare
7. Hardship Costs
8. Additional Course Costs (Residentials)
9. Costs of travel to HE interviews
10. Other


2. Policy Aims

2.1 To ensure that the Learner Support Fund is administered in accordance with DCSF/DIUS guidelines and policies.
2.2 To explain the roles and responsibilities of staff and students.
2.3 To explain the procedure for making applications to the Learner Support Fund.
2.4 To explain the appeals procedure.
2.5 To ensure that the Governing body receives appropriate reports on the administration of the Learner Support Fund.
2.6 To describe the eligibility criteria


3. Criteria and Eligibility for Learner Support Funds

The following eligibility conditions apply:
• All students aged 16 or over (including over the age of retirement)
• Following full-time (including sandwich) or vocational part-time courses of further education that are funded by the LSC. Students on HE courses are not eligible
• Disabled or disadvantaged who are at risk of not taking up or continuing in further education. This group includes students with physical and/or learning difficulties.

First priority will be given to students who are not in receipt of other grants or allowances for instance, Education Maintenance Allowance, Adult Learning Grant, or Career Development Loans. New Deal for Lone Parents can apply for LSF but may not benefit from the full payment of childcare.

NB. Students in receipt of a Career Development Loan (CDL) are eligible to receive Learner Support Funds if they can demonstrate a particular need. However, a CDL can include course fees, living expenses and other course expenses. When assessing applications for Learner Support Funds the provider will need to take into account any costs covered by the CDL to avoid double funding.

You are not eligible to apply if:

• You are a student visiting UK on a study visa
• On a programme delivered through University for Industry (Ufi)
• Prisoners on day release
• Under the age of 16
• You are being funded from adult and community learning (ACL)
• Studying and participating in work-based learning (WBL)
• Studying on HE, Foundation programmes or Advanced Modern Apprenticeships.

In allocating funding, the College will give particular priority to those students who are claiming any of the benefits and/or belong to any of the groups indicated below?

• Adults undertaking a first full Level 3 qualification.
• Learners taking a Skills for Life programme of study.
• Learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
• Those who have been in care, on probation or are young parents or otherwise considered to be at risk.
• Those eligible for fee remission because they are themselves, or they are a dependant of someone who is, receiving a means-tested state benefit or working tax credit below £15,050.

The College will also take account other grants that have been awarded to the applicant such as EMA, or ALG and will be used to determine if additional funding is to be granted. This funding is available to increase access, retention and achievement.

Learner Support Funds can be used to assist with childcare and trips that involve residential costs.
In allocating funds, the College will ensure that students are aware of the implications of funding for any state benefits for which the student may be eligible (social security/student and income related benefits) Amendment Regulations 2000.

The College will also bear in mind the implications any transport policy developed by the LEA in conjunction with college’s and schools.

Childcare – (Students aged 19 and over)

The College cannot use funds allocated to the College for Childcare Support for any other purpose.

Students/learners will be eligible for payments made from these ring fenced funds providing they have a dependent child aged under 15 (or 16 for children with disabilities) for which they provide care and they satisfy the general eligibility conditions for discretionary funding.

Costs related to travel to and from the childcare provision can be included.

The following particular provisions also apply:-
i. Normally, payment will only be made for child care during term time.
ii. Normally, payment will only be made to child minders/nurseries/crèches that are registered with Social Services. Exceptionally the fund may be used for childcare that is charged for but not registered but only where the registered provision is unavailable and the conditions are covered by the Children Act 1989.

2 16-18 year old Students

The Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is the main source of funding for 16-18 year olds. If this fund is not available to you or there are exceptional circumstances and/or additional course costs, an amount from the Learner Support Fund may be awarded.

In assessing claims, the College will seek to ensure Equality of Opportunity in line with its policy.

The grant will be used to help learners including Asylum Seekers. The College will have regard to Home Office regulations and will not make payments for childcare costs out of the Learner Support Fund if these are already met by the Home Office.

In allocating funding, the College will take account of:-
• the availability of an LSC Hardship Fund, separate from the Learner Support Funding
• the national policy of allocating enhanced funding for child care costs including the potential for reference to the local LSC for additional funding
• the implications of any transport policy identified by the LEA in conjunction with schools and colleges

Childcare (Students aged 16-18)

Refer all 16-18 year olds with childcare needs to CARE2LEARN

4. Responsibilities

4.1 Student
• Students making applications undertake to provide accurate information and appropriate documentary evidence where needed.
• Students in receipt of an award should comply with College rules and regulations as detailed in the Student Guide/Enrolment Form.
• Students must inform the college of changes in their financial circumstances.

4.2 Student Services
• Assist the student to make an appropriate application
• Ensure the form is completed appropriately and that documentary evidence is provided where required.
• Pass completed applications to the Learner Support Fund Manager

4.3 Learner Support Fund Manager
• Oversee the administration of the fund.
• Arrange and chair meetings of the Learner Support Fund Panel
• Ensure that reasons for panel’s decision are accurately recorded
• Act as the first point of contact to receive any appeal
• Liaise with finance officer to ensure timely payment of Learner Support funds
• Liaise with finance officer to ensure that audit requirements are met
• Produce reports on administration of fund for governing body
• Ensure that fund is publicised in an appropriate manner

4.4 Learner Support Fund Panel
• This will consist of the Learner Support Fund Manager and one Senior Manager
• The panel will consider each application and ensure that awards are granted fairly and equitably in accordance with the fund guidelines.

4.5 The Appeals Panel
• The Appeals Panel will consist of a Senior Manager involved in the original decision plus one other member of the SMT.
• The Appeals Panel will consider any appeals not resolved by the Learner Support Fund Manager.

4.6 Finance Officer
• Ensure funds are paid to students in accordance with the decisions of the panel.
• Ensure the student is making satisfactory progress before making award
• Administer the cashflow in accordance with audit and LSC requirements.
• Liaise with Learner Support Fund Manager to ensure that audit requirements are met.

4.7 Governing Body (Finance & Personnel Committee)
• Receive report from Learner Support Fund Manager – detailing the take-up against the criteria used and a financial analysis of the expenditure by category of support.

5. Procedure
To make an application a student must obtain advice from student services and if appropriate, arrange an interview with the appropriate member of student services staff before completing the application form.
The purpose of the interview is to advise the student on and to ensure that appropriate documentary evidence is provided. Student services staff will play no part in assessing the viability of the claim.
After the interview student services will log the application and then send the completed form to the Learner Support Fund Manager.
The Learner Support Fund Manager organises a meeting of the Learner Support Fund Panel. The panel will consider each claim and make a decision in accordance with the fund guidelines. A brief explanation of the decision will be recorded on the form.
The claim forms will be sent to the Finance Officer who will then check with the Personal Tutor that the student is making satisfactory progress and send the appropriate payment to each student. In cases where payment is made to a third party (e.g. childcare) it will be the responsibility of the Finance Officer to ensure that this occurs. The Finance Officer will retain these forms on file for 6 years.
Appeals (stage one) must be made in writing to the Learner Support Fund Manager, explaining clearly what is being appealed and why you believe the decision to be incorrect. Additional evidence to support the appeal may be required.
If you feel the appeal has not addressed the issue you raised appropriately you can ask for your appeal to be passed on to stage two. The original appeal application and supporting evidence will be passed on to the appeals panel whose decision will be final.

6. Appeals Procedure

Students who consider that their claim has been inappropriately assessed can appeal by writing to the Learner Support Fund Manager giving reasons, normally within 4 weeks of panel decision.
The Learner Support Fund Manager will arrange a meeting of the Appeal Panel. The claim will be reassessed and the student informed of the decision in writing within 10 days of the Panel meeting.

7. Timing and Amount of Payments

Review of policy
The policy will be reviewed annually, in accordance with recommendations from the college’s audit services and LSC requirements by the Learner Support Fund Manager.