Northumberland College Bursary and Learner Support Fund Dissemination Guidance

Transcription

1 Northumberland College Bursary and Learner Support Fund Dissemination Guidance

2 CONTENTS Page Background Bursary Scheme and dls commitment 3 Priorities 4 Learner eligibility 5 Assessment criteria 6 Categories of funding provided 8 Course fees 8 College-related childcare costs 8 College-related transport costs 8 College-related essential equipment 9 College-related living expenses 9 Appendix A Payment Period 10 Appendix B dsl Funds Handout 11 Appendix C Bursary Handout 13 Appendix D Appeals 16

3 1. Background A key priority of the Government is to eliminate the gap in attainment between those from poorer and more affluent backgrounds, and to ensure every young person participates in and benefits from a place in education and training. The Government provides funding to tackle disadvantage both through the EFA s funding formula and through support to help young people meet the costs of participating in education and training post The purpose of all discretionary Learner Support fund (dls) is to provide help to support learners who are experiencing financial difficulty in meeting costs associated with learning. 1.3 All funds are available to support learners studying Education Funding Agency Agency (EFA) and Skills Funding Agency (SFA) funded further education (FE) provision in colleges, external institutions (EIs), higher education (HE) institutions, school sixth forms and sixth form colleges. It cannot be used to support learners studying SFAfunded provision from Personal and Community Development Learning (PCDL), University for Industry (Ufi) or provision funded through the employer-responsive model.

4 2. Northumberland College Bursary Scheme, 24+ Loan Bursary and dls commitment 2.1 Northumberland College will: Consider the availability of other strands of financial support for learners (including support funding through DWP and Jobcentre Plus) ahead of consideration for the College bursary or discretionary fund and ensure that learners exercise their entitlement to other forms of financial support before they pursue an application for College bursary or dls Develop clear criteria showing how Northumberland College will administer and distribute the funds. This information will be available to learners via InfoZones, Student Net and Support Central on Blackboard Assess the learner s financial hardship by carrying out an income assessment Identify the learner-specific financial need which may prevent the learner from participating in FE before making any financial award Pay Bursary or dls financial awards in the form of goods or services or one-off or regular payments which are for costs other than living. These will not affect the level of the learner benefit entitlement. Northumberland College will make it clear at the time the payment is made to the learner, for what purpose the payment is given and whether it is one of a series, for services and goods or a lump sum payment.

5 3. Priorities 3.1 The priority target groups for the Bursary Fund, 24+ Loans Bursary and 19+ dls fund are as follows: Young people in care, care leavers, young people in receipt of Income Support and disabled young people in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance will be eligible to receive a bursary of 1,200 a year. This does not form part of our Bursary allocation and is applied for separately. Northumberland College will make awards to young people in ways that best fit the needs and circumstances of our students. Bursary awards will be targeted towards young people facing financial barriers to participation, such as the costs of transport, meals, books and equipment. Learners who are economically or socially disadvantaged are the priority group for 24+ Loans Bursary and 19+ dls at Northumberland College. This includes those who need support for essential equipment, transport, childcare (for learners aged 20 and over) or associated learning costs and those who are facing financial difficulty.

6 4. Learner Eligibility 4.1 The residency eligibility criteria for all funding streams are aligned to the residency criteria addressed in the document Funding Regulations, part of the overall Education Funding Agency (EFA)/SFA Funding Guidance 2014/15. Residency criteria are broadly determined by the following statement: A person on the relevant date who is settled in the UK, and who has been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands (that is including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) for the three years preceding the relevant date and whose main purpose for such residence was not to receive full-time education during any part of the three-year period. Settled meaning - having either indefinite leave to enter or remain (ILE/R) or having the right of abode in the UK 4.2 Asylum seekers aged are eligible to apply for support from the Bursary fund. However, those aged 19 and over are not eligible to apply for dls funding 4.3 Learners must always be enrolled onto an EFA/SFA-funded FE learner-responsive programme of study before any dls award will be considered. 4.4 Northumberland College will consider the availability of other sources of funding to which the learner might be entitled within the assessment process. 4.5 Learners must be aged 20 or over to receive support funding for childcare.

7 5. Assessment criteria 5.1 Except for Guaranteed Bursary, travel awards for year olds, access to 100 Service and DBS applications for 19+ awards, all learners will be required to provide parent/carers/own income evidence in the form of benefit documents as detailed in the following table: :Income/Benefit Annual Salary Income Support Job Seekers Allowance Disability Living Allowance Employment Support Allowance Incapacity Benefit Carer s Allowance Housing Benefit Any other benefit Working Tax Credit Child Tax Credit Child Benefit Grants or Bursaries etc Evidence Required P60 for tax year , or week 52 (last week in March 2014) payslip or month 12 (March 2014) payslip Entitlement / Award letter dated within the last four weeks Entitlement/Award letter dated within the last three months Entitlement/ Award letter dated within the last three months Working Tax Credit Award Notice marked Must be for full year and not partial awards (FULL AWARD NOTICE) Working Tax Credit Award Notice marked Must be for full year and not partial awards (FULL AWARD NOTICE) Award letter Relevant paperwork detailing entitlement and amount paid 5.2 Learners aged who fall into the Guaranteed Bursary award should provide evidence appropriate to their circumstance for example: A letter setting out the benefit to which the young person is entitled. Written confirmation of the young person s current or previous looked after status from the local authority which looks after them or provides their leaving care services. The learners identified as vulnerable will be issued a bus pass, food vouchers, course equipment (if appropriate) and monthly payments up to the annual value of 1, Learners aged 19 and over living with parent(s)/carer(s), may be assessed independently. 5.4 Learners who are claiming independently but who have dependants themselves are allowed 1,000 per dependant. Where a learner is dependent upon parent(s)/carer(s) then again 1,000 per additional dependant is allowed. However, where a learner is assessed as independent but living with parent(s)/carer(s) there will be no allowance made for additional siblings living in the parental home. 5.5 Any learners who may be eligible for funding from an external source will be required to access the external fund before any dls will be considered. Funding which is

8 provided by an external source will be taken into consideration when making any financial award.

9 5.6 All awards will be made on the learner achieving at least 90% attendance, adhering to the Student Code of Conduct and adhering to the Learning Agreement. Failure to have achieved this may result in the payment being stopped or delayed until a satisfactory level has been achieved. 5.7 All awards are made subject to the availability of funds allocated in September by the Government. Awards will be made on a first-come first-served basis, and there is no guarantee that late applications will be funded An appeals process is set out in a separate document which allows the learner to appeal against the decision of the initial assessment. Appeals will be assessed by the Head of Student Services within 48 hours of receipt Learners entitled to the Guaranteed Bursary award who are studying less than 30 weeks a year will be awarded on a pro rata basis up to the sum of 1,200. Part-time learners may receive the Guaranteed Bursary or dls adult funding on a pro rata basis if their course is 30 GLH or more in total duration Learners accessing childcare support will only be awarded support for hours over and above the 15 hours for children between 3 and 4 year old as this is currently funded by the government Where students are found to have intentionally given misleading or inaccurate information the College will claim back the award made. Providing false statements may result in the student being sanctioned in accordance with the College Disciplinary Policy and/or prosecution. To be eligible for all dlsf and non-guaranteed Bursary household income should be less than 20,817 in the previous tax year (2013/14) (19+ learners living with parents may be assessed independently).

10 7. Categories of funding provided 7.1 Course fees for 19+ learners dls funding can be used to fund tuition fees for learners up to a maximum of 50% of Course Fee or 500, which is the greater. 7.2 College-related childcare costs Childcare support is available for 20+ learners. Funding of up to 80 per week per child is payment up to 160 maximum. Childcarers must be Ofsted registered Full-time second-year learners will receive funding as a priority The College will then consider any remaining applications for funding by application date order and place availability within the chosen setting dls funding will only fund childcare for timetabled hours plus reasonable travel time to and from college. Where charges are for set sessions the College will agree a set amount which will not necessarily be the full session cost Childcare will not be funded for children aged three (the term following their 3rd birthday) and four-year-olds as they are entitled to free childcare of 15 hours per week. Learners will be expected to use these hours whilst studying at College Subject to availability of dls Funds, from April onwards a study leave childcare support scheme will be available. This will entitle every childcare-funded learner to receive up to 6hrs of funded childcare to be used for extra study/revision activities which are not formally timetabled. These need to be arranged in agreement with the through the IAG team. Evidence of exams or a supporting tutor statement will be required The college will not pay for childcare if the student is absent from college without good reason; in such cases the student will be expected to pay 100% of the cost of the childcare for the duration of the absence. Students who are continually absent from college and who continue to use their childcare place will have their funding withdrawn and will be sanctioned according to the college disciplinary procedure. Payment to family members or friends, or other providers who are not registered will not normally be considered. Individual applications for such support should be discussed with Student Services. 7.3 Support Towards Travel Costs dls/bursary funding can be used to support learners with the cost of travel for those learners living outside a three mile radius from their campus/outreach centre. This will be in the format of an Arriva Bus Pass where costs incurred are greater than 15 per week. There are three rates for travel support. Learners living between 3 and 10 miles of College will receive 5 per day, those living between 10 and 20 miles away will receive 6.50 per day and those living more than 20 miles away will receive 8.00 per day. Payment schedule for 2014/15 is included at Appendix A.

11 7.3.2 Travel costs will only be considered if the learner lives over 3 mile from the College campus at which they study Learners who have a free bus pass will not be eligible for transport costs Northumberland College may consider funding travel costs under exceptional/emergency circumstances. Household income evidence must be provided unless it is an extreme emergency where this is not possible (e.g. homelessness). A referral through a tutor or mentor is required. These cases will be considered for emergency support by the Head of Student Services Learners travelling between Kirkley Hall and Ashington will be entitled to a College Bus Pass. This award will be made to all applicants and is not subject to a financial assessment Learners who are in receipt of Incapacity Benefit or Disability Living Allowance and who enrol on an agreed LDD course and have previously been supported with transport through their Local Education Authority, but, who are now too old for that scheme, may receive a contribution towards transport costs. Necessary evidence is required. The learners transport requirements will be assessed by the Head of Student Services and the Head of Faculty, this will only be provided in the form of taxi travel Travel awards will not be made where attendance conditions are not met. 7.4 College-related essential equipment Equipment funded by Bursary or 19+ dls will be essential for the course of study. These costs are supplied by each curriculum area via the Head of Faculty and will be approved by the Head of Student Services prior to the start of the academic year in order for fair and consistent awards to be made dls/bursary funding can be used to purchase course equipment and books, up to a maximum of 150. Equipment and books purchased through dlsf remain the property of the College and will need to be returned at the end of the period of study. 7.5 Help with living expenses dls/bursary funding can be used to support living expenses whilst studying at Northumberland College. This will be in the format of e-vouchers which can be used in food outlets in College.

12 Appendix A Planned Payment Periods LSF and Bursary Payment Periods Period Start Period End Sent to Finance Paid By 08/09/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /03/ /03/ /04/ /03/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /07/ /07/ /07/2015 Wherever possible these dates will not be amended

13 Appendix B Northumberland College Bursary Scheme What is the Northumberland College Bursary Scheme? The Northumberland College Bursary Scheme provides financial assistance to those students in most need of support. Key Facts:- Can I apply? You can apply to the Northumberland College Bursary Funds Scheme if you are a Northumberland College student, aged under 19 years on 31st August in the academic year in which you start your programme of study. We cannot award Learner Support Funds to you if you are:- On a Higher Education (HE) course On a course not funded by the EFA On a waged apprenticeship In prison or young offender institution, or those who have been released on temporary license. How do I know if I qualify for a Bursary Funds? Travel support is available regardless of income To qualify for Discretionary Support Funds you will have a household income of: less than 20,817 in the previous tax year (2013/14) Please note that evidence of income must be provided. The following table illustrates the income which is taken into consideration and the evidence we require. Income/Benefit Annual Salary Income Support Job Seekers Allowance Disability Living Allowance Employment Support Allowance Incapacity Benefit Carer s Allowance Housing Benefit Any other benefit Evidence Required P60 for tax year , or week 52 (last week in March 2014) payslip or month 12 (March 2014) payslip Entitlement / Award letter dated within the last four weeks Entitlement/Award letter dated within the last three months Entitlement/ Award letter dated within the last three months

14 Working Tax Credit Child Tax Credit Child Benefit Grants or Bursaries etc Working Tax Credit Award Notice marked Must be for full year and not partial awards (FULL AWARD NOTICE) Working Tax Credit Award Notice marked Must be for full year and not partial awards (FULL AWARD NOTICE) Award letter Relevant paperwork detailing entitlement and amount paid How will I receive my Bursary Fund award if my application is successful? If you are eligible for the Bursary Support Fund, you will receive a combination of the following up to the maximum value of 1200: Help towards travel costs Support with kit and equipment Supplement for Free School Meals How can I appeal if I think you have made the wrong decision? All applicants to Bursary Fund and dlsf have the right of appeal. Any student wishing to appeal should write to the Head of Student Services and Learner Support within 10 working days of being notified of the initial outcome, stating clearly the reasons for appeal and giving any additional details about the circumstances the student thinks should be taken into consideration.

15 Appendix C Northumberland College Learner Support Scheme What is the Northumberland College Learner Support Funds Scheme? The Northumberland College Learner Support Funds Scheme provides financial assistance to those students in most need of support. Can I apply? You can apply to the Northumberland College Learner Support Funds Scheme if you are a Northumberland College student, aged 19 years or older on 31st August in the academic year in which you start your programme of study. We cannot award Learner Support Funds to you if you are:- On a Higher Education (HE) course On a waged apprenticeship In prison or young offender institution, or those who have been released on temporary license. How do I know if I qualify for a dls Funds? To qualify for Learner Support Funds you will have a household income of: less than 20,817 in the previous tax year (2012/13) (19+ learners living with parents may be assessed independently) Please note that evidence of income must be provided. The following table illustrates the income which is taken into consideration and the evidence we require. Income/Benefit Annual Salary Income Support Job Seekers Allowance Disability Living Allowance Employment Support Allowance Incapacity Benefit Carer s Allowance Housing Benefit Any other benefit Working Tax Credit Child Tax Credit Child Benefit Grants or Bursaries etc Evidence Required P60 for tax year , or week 52 (last week in March 2014) payslip or month 12 (March 2014) payslip Entitlement / Award letter dated within the last four weeks Entitlement/Award letter dated within the last three months Entitlement/ Award letter dated within the last three months Working Tax Credit Award Notice marked Must be for full year and not partial awards (FULL AWARD NOTICE) Working Tax Credit Award Notice marked Must be for full year and not partial awards (FULL AWARD NOTICE) Award letter Relevant paperwork detailing entitlement and amount paid

16 How will I receive my Learner Support Fund award if my application is successful? If you are eligible for the Learner Support Fund, excluding Childcare Awards you will receive a combination of the following to the maximum value of 1200: Help towards travel costs Meals at college (voucher system) Support with kit and equipment Help with Course Fees (Maximum 500) Payment of DBS certification How can I appeal if I think you have made the wrong decision? All applicants to Bursary Fund and dlsf have the right of appeal. Any student wishing to appeal should write to the Head of Student Services and Learner Support within 10 working days of being notified of the initial outcome, stating clearly the reasons for appeal and giving any additional details about the circumstances the student thinks should be taken into consideration.

17 Appendix D - Appeals Funding Appeals Procedure All applicants to Bursary Fund and dlsf have the right of appeal. Any student wishing to appeal should write to the Head of Student Services and Learner Support within 10 working days of being notified of the initial outcome, stating clearly the reasons for appeal and giving any additional details about the circumstances the student thinks should be taken into consideration. Appeals will be considered by members of the Funding Appeals Panel. Notification of the outcome of the appeal will be within 10 working days of the Panel meeting taking place. Students who disagree with the outcome of the appeal and believe that their application has not been assessed in accordance with the policy, can then follow the formal complaints procedure. Funding Appeals Panel The College Funding Appeals Panel will consist of: Vice Principal for Curriculum Head of Student Services and Learner Support(Chair) Student Services Coordinator Senior Mentor Three members of the Panel will normally be required for a decision to be made. The Chair may co-opt a suitable college manager to the Panel as required.